Firefighters exempt from federal commercial licensing regulations
DISPATCHES
Firefighters won’t have to comply with a federal commercial vehicle licensing requirement— the Department of Transportation says they’re exempt from that part of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986.
The act, intended to regulate interstate truck and bus drivers, requires a commercial license of anyone operating a vehicle that weighs 26,000 pounds or more, carries 15 or more people, or transports hazardous materials. The DOT granted states the right to waive that part of the act for firefighters, agreeing that the cost of obtaining a license —roughly S400 per person—was prohibitive.
The DOT was contacted about this issue by more than 900 fire service members and 140 Congressmen.
