Bill Helping Military Members Gain Employment in the Trucking Industry Heading to President's Desk

Press Release

Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) today welcomed the passage of S. 3624, the Military Commercial Driver's License Act of 2012, legislation that will help our nation's military members with securing employment in the trucking and transportation industries.

Boswell, who serves on the House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, was an original cosponsor of the bill in the House (H.R 6456) which allows active duty military, military reserves, National Guard, active duty United States Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary service members to obtain commercial driver's licenses in states where they are stationed.

"With a growing need for drivers in the trucking industry and high unemployment among our nation's service members, we thought the residency requirement was an unnecessary hurdle for the men and women who are proudly serving our country," Boswell said. "This will remove that burden and help our service members in their efforts to obtain good paying jobs when their service to our country ends and also help trucking companies fill their vacancies with skilled drivers."

Current law requires citizens to be legal residents of the state in which they are obtaining a Commercial Driver's License. Because most military service members receive their training outside of their home state, the law makes it difficult for them to obtain their CDL prior to leaving military service.

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