Texas Expands CDL Testing to 6 Days a Week

Texas Expands CDL Testing to 6 Days a Week
A semi truck used by students while earning their commercial driver's license (CDL) parked at Truck America Training of Kentucky in Shepherdsville, Ky. The nation's trucking shortage already stands at a record 80,000. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)

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Texas is expanding truck driver license testing to six days a week in response to a nationwide shortage that has contributed to supply chain snarls across the economy.

Individuals seeking to obtain or renew commercial driver licenses can take the test on the next three Saturdays at a limited number of state offices, the Department of Public Safety said in a statement on Nov. 4.

"TXTA applauds DPS for opening CDL office locations for three Saturdays in November for CDL transactions only," said Texas Trucking Association President and CEO John D. Esparza in a statement. "The ongoing lack of commercial driver license (CDL) drivers combined with the backlog of CDL appointment times contribute to the driver shortage and as a result, the supply chain challenges we are experiencing."



Normally, the tests are only available Monday through Friday.

“We’ve all seen reports, or personally felt the impact, of the severe strain our supply chain is currently facing,” Steven McCraw, director of the department, said in the release. “By adding CDL services at select offices, we can get more qualified commercial drivers out on the roads to move more goods to Texans across the state and help meet the demand.”

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