Fees for obtaining a commercial driver's license in New York can mean a $200 or more hit to the wallet.
Democratic state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara proposed Tuesday a plan that would waive all Department of Motor Vehicle fees for obtaining a commercial driver's license until the end of 2024.
The hope is the measure would make it easier for a person to obtain a license and alleviate driver shortages and supply chain problems that have plagued the country over the last several years.
“All of these fees can create burdensome barriers for working class people that may be considering a new career that requires a commercial driver’s license at a time when these jobs desperately need to be filled,” Santabarbara said. “My hope is that a two year moratorium on these DMV fees will help encourage people to take good paying jobs in vital areas such as school buses, snow plows, and delivery trucks.”
Fees for an application are $10 and taking a commercial driver license road test are $40. There are also additional fees for tests or renewing a license.
A tight labor market has also coincided with rising inflation, further putting pressure on consumers.
"Staffing shortages create gridlock in our supply chains, which drive up costs and contribute to higher prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump," Santabarbara said. "This legislation seeks to help with this issue by building a pool of qualified candidates to hire from as shortages continue across the nation."