PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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People & committees
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21] · R–FL
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 15, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-08-13 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Freedom Haulers Act would require states to waive specified commercial driving tests for military vehicle operators who meet occupational, experience and driving-record conditions. The waivers would apply to civilian commercial driving credentials while preserving medical certification, background checks and other generally applicable qualifications. A separate provision would extend the military skills-test waiver window from 12 to 24 months after leaving the military.
This Act may be cited as the Freedom Haulers Act.
extend the waiver for the commercial driver’s license skills test from 12 months to 24 months after a qualified individual separates from the military
The State shall waive, for a covered military operator, the requirement to pass a knowledge test otherwise applicable for issuance of a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to waive any requirement for a medical certification, background check, or other qualification standard applicable to commercial driver’s license holders generally under this chapter or regulations issued under section 31305(a) of this title.
Section 2 would require federal regulations within 180 days after enactment to extend the military commercial driver’s license skills-test waiver window from 12 to 24 months after a qualified person leaves the military.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Motor Safety Administration shall issue such regulations as are necessary to extend the waiver for the commercial driver’s license skills test from 12 months to 24 months after a qualified individual separates from the military under the military skills test waiver program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Section 3 would replace subsection (d) of 49 U.S.C. 31305 with the proposed military “even exchange” program for civilian commercial driving test waivers. The existing subsection is not supplied, so its contents and the full changes from current law cannot be established here. Covered operators under the proposed text would be current or former regular or reserve members who held specified Army, Air Force, Marine Corps or Navy jobs during the applicable period, including substantially equivalent successor job designations. Unless otherwise specified, the covered period would be the 24 months immediately before applying.
Section 31305 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: (d) Even exchange program for military commercial motor vehicle operators
The term covered military operator means a current or former member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces (as those terms are defined in section 101(a) of title 10) who, during the applicable covered period described in subparagraph (2)(B), (3)(B), or (4)(D), as applicable, was regularly employed and designated in a military occupational specialty, Air Force specialty code, or occupational classification (or a substantially equivalent successor designation) as— (i) a Motor Transport Operator (88M), a PATRIOT Launching Station Operator (14T), or a Fueler (92F), in the Army; (ii) a Vehicle Operator (2T1), a Fueler (2F0), or a Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator (3E2), in the Air Force; (iii) a Motor Vehicle Operator (3531), in the Marine Corps; or (iv) an Equipment Operator (E.O.), in the Navy.
Except as otherwise specified, the term covered period means the 24-month period immediately preceding the date of the individual’s application for a waiver under this paragraph.
States would have to waive the knowledge test for a commercial learner’s permit or license for covered operators who meet the conditions. Applicants would have to certify and provide evidence of qualifying military employment during the preceding 24 months and of operating—or having operated immediately before separation—a commercial vehicle representative of the type they expect to drive.
(2) Knowledge test waiver (A) In general The State shall waive, for a covered military operator, the requirement to pass a knowledge test otherwise applicable for issuance of a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license. (B) Conditions A waiver under clause (A) applies only if the covered military operator certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, the operator— (i) is or was regularly employed and designated as described in subparagraph (1)(A); (ii) is operating, or immediately before separation from the Armed Forces operated, a commercial motor vehicle representative of the type of commercial motor vehicle the operator expects to operate;
For the knowledge-test waiver, applicants would also have to certify and provide evidence that, during the preceding 24 months, they had not simultaneously held more than one civilian driver’s license in addition to a military license. They must not have had a driver’s license suspended, revoked or canceled during that period. They must also have had no convictions for offenses referenced in 49 U.S.C. 31310(b)–(e), no more than one serious traffic violation conviction, no nonparking traffic-control conviction arising from a crash, and no record of an at-fault crash during that period. The referenced law defining the disqualifying offenses is not supplied.
A waiver under clause (A) applies only if the covered military operator certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, the operator—
(iii) has not simultaneously held more than one civilian driver’s license, in addition to a military license; (iv) has not had a driver’s license suspended, revoked, or canceled; (v) has not been convicted, in any type of motor vehicle, of an offense described in subsections (b) through (e) of section 31310 of this title; (vi) has not been convicted, more than once, of a serious traffic violation, as defined by the Secretary under section 31305(a) of this title; and (vii) has not been convicted of a violation of military, State, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising from a traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in which the operator was at fault.
States would have to waive the commercial license driving test for covered operators holding a valid civilian license who meet additional conditions. Applicants would have to certify and provide evidence of current military commercial-vehicle employment or such employment during the preceding 24 months, exemption from commercial licensing requirements in that job, and at least two years operating a representative commercial vehicle immediately before separation from the military. Although covered operators include current service members, the text does not explain how the experience condition tied to separation would apply before separation.
(3) Driving test waiver (A) In general The State shall waive, for a covered military operator who holds a valid civilian driver’s license at the time of application, the driving test otherwise required for issuance of a commercial driver’s license. (B) Conditions and limitations The State shall condition a waiver under clause (A) on the covered military operator certifying and providing evidence that the operator— (i) is regularly employed, or was regularly employed during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle; (ii) was exempt from commercial driver’s license requirements while operating in that military position; and (iii) operated a commercial motor vehicle representative of the type the operator operates or expects to operate for not less than the 2 years immediately preceding separation from the Armed Forces.
Driving-test waiver applicants would also have to certify compliance with the same license, conviction and crash-record conditions used for the knowledge-test waiver, covering the two years immediately before applying.
(C) Clean record The State shall further condition a waiver under clause (A) on the covered military operator certifying that, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the application, the operator satisfies subclauses (iii) through (vii) of subparagraph (2)(B).
(iii) has not simultaneously held more than one civilian driver’s license, in addition to a military license; (iv) has not had a driver’s license suspended, revoked, or canceled; (v) has not been convicted, in any type of motor vehicle, of an offense described in subsections (b) through (e) of section 31310 of this title; (vi) has not been convicted, more than once, of a serious traffic violation, as defined by the Secretary under section 31305(a) of this title; and (vii) has not been convicted of a violation of military, State, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising from a traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in which the operator was at fault.
For covered operators meeting the endorsement conditions, states would have to waive both the driving and specialized knowledge tests for a passenger endorsement, and the specialized knowledge test for a tank vehicle endorsement.
(4) Endorsement waivers (A) Passenger endorsement The State shall waive the driving test and specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a passenger endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D). (B) Tank vehicle endorsement The State shall waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a tank vehicle endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D).
States would also have to waive the specialized knowledge test for a hazardous materials endorsement for covered operators meeting the endorsement conditions. All other federal standards for that endorsement, including legally required background checks, would remain.
(C) Hazardous materials endorsement The State shall waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a hazardous materials endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D), except that a State shall continue to apply all other federally required standards for issuance of a hazardous materials endorsement, including any background check required by law.
For any of these endorsement waivers, applicants would have to certify and provide evidence that, during the preceding 24 months, they held military work requiring operation of the relevant passenger vehicles or tank vehicles, or transportation of hazardous materials. They would also have to certify and provide evidence that they satisfied the referenced license, conviction and crash-record conditions for that period.
(D) Conditions A waiver under clause (A), (B), or (C) applies only if the covered military operator certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, the operator— (i) is or was regularly employed in a military position requiring operation of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, a tank vehicle, or the transportation of hazardous materials, as applicable to the endorsement sought; and (ii) satisfies subclauses (iii) through (vii) of subparagraph (2)(B).
(iii) has not simultaneously held more than one civilian driver’s license, in addition to a military license; (iv) has not had a driver’s license suspended, revoked, or canceled; (v) has not been convicted, in any type of motor vehicle, of an offense described in subsections (b) through (e) of section 31310 of this title; (vi) has not been convicted, more than once, of a serious traffic violation, as defined by the Secretary under section 31305(a) of this title; and (vii) has not been convicted of a violation of military, State, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising from a traffic crash, and has no record of a crash in which the operator was at fault.
The test waivers would not waive medical certification, background checks or other qualification standards generally applicable to commercial license holders.
(6) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to waive any requirement for a medical certification, background check, or other qualification standard applicable to commercial driver’s license holders generally under this chapter or regulations issued under section 31305(a) of this title.
States would have to create procedures and forms for the waivers and accept applications in the same manner as other commercial permit or license applications. The bill would also add a state participation requirement to adopt and operate the program consistently with standards prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation.
(5) State implementation A State shall establish procedures and forms necessary to administer the waivers required by this paragraph and shall accept applications under this paragraph in the same manner as other applications for a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license.
(b) Requirements for State participation Section 31311(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (26) The State shall adopt and carry out an even exchange program for military commercial motor vehicle operators as set forth in section 31305(d) and consistent with the standards prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation.
The supplied actions snapshot, updated September 15, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on August 13, 2026. It does not establish what happened after those recorded actions.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-15T08:06:21Z. 2026-08-13: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. 2026-08-13: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-08-13. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy attached to appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials, or any amendment attachment history.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials. Formal earmark documentation was not supplied.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The findings identify limited exemptions from otherwise applicable testing requirements and an extension of access to a waiver. Classification as a targeted benefit does not imply improper purpose.
Current and former military operators in specifically listed occupational roles would receive mandatory exemptions from otherwise applicable commercial licensing knowledge and driving tests if they meet the stated conditions. These occupationally limited exemptions are central to the bill’s military licensing policy and provide relief from testing requirements beyond equal access to the application process.
The term covered military operator means a current or former member of a regular or reserve component of the Armed Forces (as those terms are defined in section 101(a) of title 10) who, during the applicable covered period described in subparagraph (2)(B), (3)(B), or (4)(D), as applicable, was regularly employed and designated in a military occupational specialty, Air Force specialty code, or occupational classification (or a substantially equivalent successor designation) as— (i) a Motor Transport Operator (88M), a PATRIOT Launching Station Operator (14T), or a Fueler (92F), in the Army; (ii) a Vehicle Operator (2T1), a Fueler (2F0), or a Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator (3E2), in the Air Force; (iii) a Motor Vehicle Operator (3531), in the Marine Corps; or (iv) an Equipment Operator (E.O.), in the Navy.
The State shall waive, for a covered military operator, the requirement to pass a knowledge test otherwise applicable for issuance of a commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license.
A waiver under clause (A) applies only if the covered military operator certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, the operator—
The State shall waive, for a covered military operator who holds a valid civilian driver’s license at the time of application, the driving test otherwise required for issuance of a commercial driver’s license.
The State shall condition a waiver under clause (A) on the covered military operator certifying and providing evidence that the operator—
Covered military operators with qualifying military work and records would also receive exemptions from passenger, tank vehicle and hazardous materials endorsement tests. The passenger exemption covers driving and specialized knowledge tests; the tank vehicle and hazardous materials exemptions cover specialized knowledge tests. Other federally required hazardous materials endorsement standards would remain. These conditional exemptions extend the bill’s military licensing policy to specialized credentials.
(4) Endorsement waivers (A) Passenger endorsement The State shall waive the driving test and specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a passenger endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D). (B) Tank vehicle endorsement The State shall waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a tank vehicle endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D). (C) Hazardous materials endorsement The State shall waive the specialized knowledge test otherwise required for a hazardous materials endorsement for a covered military operator described in subparagraph (1)(A) who meets the conditions in clause (D), except that a State shall continue to apply all other federally required standards for issuance of a hazardous materials endorsement, including any background check required by law.
(D) Conditions A waiver under clause (A), (B), or (C) applies only if the covered military operator certifies and provides evidence that, during the 24-month period immediately preceding the application, the operator— (i) is or was regularly employed in a military position requiring operation of a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, a tank vehicle, or the transportation of hazardous materials, as applicable to the endorsement sought; and (ii) satisfies subclauses (iii) through (vii) of subparagraph (2)(B).
Section 2 would extend the commercial driver’s license skills-test waiver window from 12 to 24 months after military separation for qualified individuals under the military skills test waiver program. This gives those individuals a longer period to use a testing exemption and directly extends the bill’s military licensing policy. The supplied text does not reproduce the program’s full eligibility rules.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Motor Safety Administration shall issue such regulations as are necessary to extend the waiver for the commercial driver’s license skills test from 12 months to 24 months after a qualified individual separates from the military under the military skills test waiver program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 15, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI