[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10099 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10099
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration to issue certain regulations to extend the time period
for the waiver of the commercial driver's license skills test for
certain members of the military, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 13, 2026
Mr. Mast (for himself and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration to issue certain regulations to extend the time period
for the waiver of the commercial driver's license skills test for
certain members of the military, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom Haulers Act''.
SEC. 2. MILITARY SKILLS TEST WAIVER PROGRAM.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Administrator of the Federal Motor Safety Administration shall
issue such regulations as are necessary to extend the waiver for the
commercial driver's license skills test from 12 months to 24 months
after a qualified individual separates from the military under the
military skills test waiver program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration.
SEC. 3. MANDATORY EVEN EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR MILITARY COMMERCIAL
DRIVER'S LICENSE APPLICANTS.
(a) In General.--Section 31305 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Even Exchange Program for Military Commercial Motor Vehicle
Operators.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Covered military operator.--The term `covered
military operator' means a current or former member of
a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces (as
those terms are defined in section 101(a) of title 10)
who, during the applicable covered period described in
subparagraph (2)(B), (3)(B), or (4)(D), as applicable,
was regularly employed and designated in a military
occupational specialty, Air Force specialty code, or
occupational classification (or a substantially
equivalent successor designation) as--
``(i) a Motor Transport Operator (88M), a
PATRIOT Launching Station Operator (14T), or a
Fueler (92F), in the Army;
``(ii) a Vehicle Operator (2T1), a Fueler
(2F0), or a Pavement and Construction Equipment
Operator (3E2), in the Air Force;
``(iii) a Motor Vehicle Operator (3531), in
the Marine Corps; or
``(iv) an Equipment Operator (E.O.), in the
Navy.
``(B) Covered period.--Except as otherwise
specified, the term `covered period' means the 24-month
period immediately preceding the date of the
individual's application for a waiver under this
paragraph.
``(2) Knowledge test waiver.--
``(A) In general.--The State shall waive, for a
covered military operator, the requirement to pass a
knowledge test otherwise applicable for issuance of a
commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's
license.
``(B) Conditions.--A waiver under clause (A)
applies only if the covered military operator certifies
and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period
immediately preceding the application, the operator--
``(i) is or was regularly employed and
designated as described in subparagraph (1)(A);
``(ii) is operating, or immediately before
separation from the Armed Forces operated, a
commercial motor vehicle representative of the
type of commercial motor vehicle the operator
expects to operate;
``(iii) has not simultaneously held more
than one civilian driver's license, in addition
to a military license;
``(iv) has not had a driver's license
suspended, revoked, or canceled;
``(v) has not been convicted, in any type
of motor vehicle, of an offense described in
subsections (b) through (e) of section 31310 of
this title;
``(vi) has not been convicted, more than
once, of a serious traffic violation, as
defined by the Secretary under section 31305(a)
of this title; and
``(vii) has not been convicted of a
violation of military, State, or local law
relating to motor vehicle traffic control
(other than a parking violation) arising from a
traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in
which the operator was at fault.
``(3) Driving test waiver.--
``(A) In general.--The State shall waive, for a
covered military operator who holds a valid civilian
driver's license at the time of application, the
driving test otherwise required for issuance of a
commercial driver's license.
``(B) Conditions and limitations.--The State shall
condition a waiver under clause (A) on the covered
military operator certifying and providing evidence
that the operator--
``(i) is regularly employed, or was
regularly employed during the 24-month period
immediately preceding the application, in a
military position requiring operation of a
commercial motor vehicle;
``(ii) was exempt from commercial driver's
license requirements while operating in that
military position; and
``(iii) operated a commercial motor vehicle
representative of the type the operator
operates or expects to operate for not less
than the 2 years immediately preceding
separation from the Armed Forces.
``(C) Clean record.--The State shall further
condition a waiver under clause (A) on the covered
military operator certifying that, during the 2-year
period immediately preceding the application, the
operator satisfies subclauses (iii) through (vii) of
subparagraph (2)(B).
``(4) Endorsement waivers.--
``(A) Passenger endorsement.--The State shall waive
the driving test and specialized knowledge test
otherwise required for a passenger endorsement for a
covered military operator described in subparagraph
(1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D).
``(B) Tank vehicle endorsement.--The State shall
waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise required
for a tank vehicle endorsement for a covered military
operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the
conditions in clause (D).
``(C) Hazardous materials endorsement.--The State
shall waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise
required for a hazardous materials endorsement for a
covered military operator described in subparagraph
(1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D), except
that a State shall continue to apply all other
federally required standards for issuance of a
hazardous materials endorsement, including any
background check required by law.
``(D) Conditions.--A waiver under clause (A), (B),
or (C) applies only if the covered military operator
certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-
month period immediately preceding the application, the
operator--
``(i) is or was regularly employed in a
military position requiring operation of a
passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, a
tank vehicle, or the transportation of
hazardous materials, as applicable to the
endorsement sought; and
``(ii) satisfies subclauses (iii) through
(vii) of subparagraph (2)(B).
``(5) State implementation.--A State shall establish
procedures and forms necessary to administer the waivers
required by this paragraph and shall accept applications under
this paragraph in the same manner as other applications for a
commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license.
``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph
shall be construed to waive any requirement for a medical
certification, background check, or other qualification
standard applicable to commercial driver's license holders
generally under this chapter or regulations issued under
section 31305(a) of this title.''.
(b) Requirements for State Participation.--Section 31311(a) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(26) The State shall adopt and carry out an even exchange
program for military commercial motor vehicle operators as set
forth in section 31305(d) and consistent with the standards
prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation.''.
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