Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), applauded the Senate for adding legislation he authored to help reduce red tape for veterans who apply for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.  Wicker is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
 
“Veterans face a daunting number of regulations when applying for a commercial driver’s license even if they learned to operate a truck in a war zone,” Wicker said.  “Those who served our nation deserve our full support as they seek jobs back home.  Cutting through some of the redundant red tape that veterans are forced to overcome is a good start.”

The Wicker amendment directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation to conduct a joint study to identify legislative and regulatory actions that could be taken to assist recently-separated members of the military applying for CDL and improve the transition of members who operate qualifying motor vehicles into careers operating commercial vehicles.

Mississippi Trucking Association President David Roberts added, “As the trucking industry faces a growing driver shortage, the Mississippi Trucking Association thanks Senator Roger Wicker for his leadership in offering this important amendment that will help improve the transition of members of the Armed Forces, with experience in operating commercial motor vehicles, into careers operating commercial motor vehicles in the private sector.”

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