GLEN BURNIE, MD (March 26, 2022) – Nearly 93 percent of Maryland communities depend exclusively on trucks to deliver goods that residents and businesses rely on in their daily lives. That is one of the many things Marylanders learned today during the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Information Day hosted by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) and the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA). MDOT MVA staff answered questions on how to obtain a commercial driving permit and CDL in Maryland. Representatives from MMTA spoke about the skills needed for the role and how to safely share the road with commercial vehicles, while Maryland truck driver Jackie Spangler discussed what life is like as a professional driver. Additionally, an MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) instructor was on site to discuss the agency’s dump truck certification process and the MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) provided information on the agency’s training department. Interested applicants were given information on potential employment opportunities. The public also benefited from the event, learning about how to safely share the road with large trucks - including appropriate stopping distances and avoiding a truck’s blind spots – and had the chance to experience what a driver sees through a truck provided by Carroll Motor Fuels, a dump truck provided by MDOT SHA and a bus provided by MDOT MTA. “This event was a great opportunity for Marylanders to learn about the workings of the trucking industry and how we can all responsibly share the road with large trucks and buses,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “The last several years has highlighted the challenges and importance of the trucking industry and we want to ensure we’re providing as much support as we can, through accessibility when doing business with the MDOT MVA and educating Marylanders on how we can safely navigate the roads together.” “Today’s partnership with the Motor Vehicle Administration provided multiple benefits - first and foremost, it gave people a chance to sit in a truck so they could see what a driver sees. By learning about a truck’s operational limits, we hope to improve safety for all motorists,” said Louis Campion, President and CEO of the MMTA. “Second, the need for truck drivers has never been greater. There are vital industries in today’s economy that offer opportunities for steady, good-paying jobs without a college degree and trucking is one of those.” Maryland is home to more than 106,000 commercial driver’s license holders. Over the past few years, the MDOT MVA has worked to offer more accessibility for prospective CDL holders such as the ability to make same-day appointments due to cancellations and special licensing days to allow more drivers access to testing. Additionally, the agency has improved how CDL holders can conduct their MDOT MVA business. For example, CDL products now have an 8-year expiration date, the same as non-commercial licenses (with the exception of hazmat endorsements), the ability to renew their license online and the ability to electronically submit their medical certificate. For more information on how to become a CDL holder in Maryland, visit the MDOT MVA website. ### |
