Relating to third-party testers and test examiners for commercial driver’s license knowledge and driving skills tests

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) is required to examine applicants for driver’s licenses. However, the DOT may designate community colleges and other third-party testers to administer the driving skills test required for a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A third-party skills test examiner used by a third-party tester must meet federal regulatory requirements as adopted by rule by the DOT. The DOT is required to adopt rules requiring that a third-party tester, other than a community college, either be an Iowa-based motor carrier, or its subsidiary, that has its principal office and operates a permanent commercial driver training facility in Iowa, or an Iowa nonprofit corporation that serves as a trade association for Iowa-based motor carriers. This bill authorizes third-party testers who comply with federal regulatory requirements, and who are designated by the DOT, to administer the knowledge and driving skills tests required for commercial learner’s permits and CDLs. The bill authorizes Iowa public transit systems (an urban or regional transit system providing transit services accessible to the general public and receiving federal, state, or local tax support) and Iowa regional transit systems (a public transit system serving one county or all or part of a multicounty area whose boundaries correspond to the same boundaries as those of the regional planning areas designated by the governor except as agreed upon by the county and the DOT) to be third-party testers.187 and defines “third-party test examiner” and “third-party tester”.