Transportation Industry Legislation


A new Maryland bill will make it easier for veterans to get into the trucking industry. 

I edited a post by Bethany Rodgers brodgers@newspost.com | 13 comments

Delegate David E. Vogt III has passed legislation that affirms a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration program to help veterans secure commercial driver’s licenses.
Vogt’s legislation deals with commercial driver’s licenses for military veterans.
Currently, the MVA waives a skills test for the commercial license for veterans who have left the military within the past year. To qualify for the waiver, the veterans must also pass the CDL knowledge test, have a good driving record, have at least two years of related driving experience in the military and have a certification from their commanding officers.
Although this program already exists, Vogt’s bill would include it in state law, meaning that the MVA officials could not choose on their own to discontinue it, according to an agency spokesman. The proposal also directs the MVA to explore providing CDL training courses on Maryland’s military bases.
Vogt, R-District 4, said the proposal will make the state more welcoming to military veterans and help former service members land employment in the trucking industry.
“Programs like this will help provide well-paying jobs and will turn the climate to be more friendly for our veterans and retirees,” said Vogt, who served in the Marine Corps for eight years.
Many veterans have experience operating heavy machinery, so waiving the skills test makes sense, Vogt said. Offering on-base CDL training would also extend these vocational opportunities to military personnel who aren’t assigned to drive large equipment, he added.
Estimates show that there are more than 428,000 military veterans living in Maryland, according to a fiscal analysis of Vogt’s bill. The unemployment rate for Maryland veterans stood at 5.9 percent in 2013, according to state data.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will decide whether to sign the bill into law. The spokeswoman had favorable comments for Vogt’s bill on helping veterans get commercial licenses.
“The measure is effective in many states, as it lends itself to assisting veterans who already have a skill-set without making them go through additional training, testing, and expense,” Erin Montgomery, Hogan’s spokeswoman, said in a prepared statement.
Follow Bethany Rodgers on Twitter: @BethRodgersFNP.

Let us all think of ways to make it easier for veterans to assimilate back into society after a stint in the military.  Our school trains many veterans to become freight brokers.  We also have many truck drivers who are ready to stop driving but still want to stay in the industry train to become freight brokers.

Think this might be a great career move for you?  Give me a call.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach
www.transportationtraining.com

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