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New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she wants to make it easier to get a Commercial Driver’s License, easing the trucker shortage that has been slowing delivery of products and driving up prices.

Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
Kathy Whyte/ WNBF News
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The Governor says a new initiative would allow qualified third parties to give the CDL road tests in order to provide more testing locations statewide and expand the capacity at existing state-run sites.  That would reduce the time it takes to get qualified CDL operators on the road.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is holding a public hearing on the idea on January 26 via WebEx from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Written comments are being accepted at CDLThirdPartyTesting@dmv.ny.gov from next Tuesday, January 18 through February 4.

New York has launched other steps to get more truck drivers delivering goods. That includes opening new CDL Driver Testing sites in partnership with the State University of New York, the Thruway Authority, New York Racing Association and Office of General Services at large lots at their various sites to accommodate road tests and setting up faster testing for school employees holding an existing CDL to allow them to get permits for driving vans and buses temporarily.

For more information on getting a Commercial Driver License, go to https://dmv.ny.gov/commercial-drivers.

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