Tallahassee, Florida — On September 9, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it will not grant Florida a waiver to alter the sequence of its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) skills test. The decision follows a formal request from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) that was submitted in December of the previous year.

The CDL skills test comprises three distinct segments: a pre‑trip inspection, a basic vehicle control test, and an on‑road driving portion. Florida’s proposal would have allowed test administrators to start with the pre‑trip inspection, then move to vehicle control, and finish with the on‑road test. Importantly, the state also wanted examiners to have the option to let candidates who fail an early segment return later for just the failed portion, rather than requiring a full retest. The FLHSMV argued that this flexibility would save time for compliance staff and reduce the burden on applicants.

FMCSA’s response cites the existing regulatory framework that already permits retesting only for the portion of the test that was not passed. The rules state that a failure on the pre‑trip inspection forces a candidate to retake the entire test, a failure on vehicle control requires a repeat of that segment alone, and a failure on the on‑road portion mandates only a retake of that final part. FMCSA highlighted that this structure preserves safety for both the test taker and the public, ensuring that each step is mastered before proceeding to the next. The agency also noted that the federal Entry‑Level Driver Training (ELDT) program, which has been in effect since 2019, is expected to lower the overall failure rate among new applicants.

What This Means for Drivers

For CDL‑A holders and owner‑operators, the decision confirms that the testing sequence will remain unchanged. Candidates must still pass the pre‑trip inspection before attempting vehicle control, and both must be cleared before the on‑road segment can begin. This means that a failure on the pre‑trip inspection will trigger a full retest, while a vehicle control failure will require only that portion to be repeated. Trucking companies hiring new drivers will continue to rely on the current test order when evaluating applicants’ readiness for the road. The unchanged structure also ensures that all drivers entering the workforce have demonstrated consistent competency across all test stages, which is critical for safety on U.S. highways.

Industry Reaction

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) and the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) voiced support for Florida’s request during the public comment period, arguing that the proposed order could streamline training schedules and reduce administrative overhead. However, FMCSA’s decision signals that the agency will maintain uniform testing practices nationwide. This stance aligns with the broader industry push for standardized safety protocols, especially as trucking companies hiring continue to emphasize rigorous driver preparation. Many carriers believe that consistency in testing directly translates to safer fleets and fewer on‑road incidents.

Key Points

• FMCSA denied Florida’s exemption request on September 9, 2026.
• The three‑part CDL skills test order remains pre‑trip inspection, vehicle control, then on‑road.
• Regulations already allow retesting only for the portion failed.
• Entry‑Level Driver Training (ELDT) is expected to lower failure rates across all test segments.

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