House Transportation panel weighs tighter CDL instructor rules, eases motorcycle instructor experience requirement

The House Committee on Transportation reviewed proposed revisions to state law that would (1) add class-specific experience requirements for commercial driving instructors to align with federal standards and (2) reduce the required licensed riding experience for motorcycle instructors.

Committee members heard that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requested the commercial driving-instructor language to mirror federal standards and to add specificity about what experience qualifies an instructor. DMV staff and its training unit previously testified that the bill does not eliminate the existing 5-year minimum for being a licensed CDL operator to apply for an instructor credential; the new language establishes two qualifying pathways tied to the class of vehicle or prior behind-the-wheel instructor experience.

Why it matters: Committee members said the change could make qualification requirements clearer for trainers and for DMV enforcement, but some representatives were concerned the clarification could unintentionally reduce the pool of eligible commercial driving instructors. The panel discussed whether the change would create shortages in rural areas where experienced commercial drivers may be fewer, and whether the department should return with data.

Key details: - Commercial driving instructors: The bill would require either (a) holding a CDL of the same or higher class plus at least two years’ experience driving a commercial motor vehicle of the same or higher class (with necessary endorsements), or (b) holding the same-or-higher CDL plus at least two years’ experience as a behind-the-wheel instructor. Committee staff said the statutory baseline 5-year experience as a licensed CDL operator remains a prerequisite to apply. - Motorcycle instructors: The motorcycle rider training subchapter language would change the statutory minimum from four years of licensed motorcycle experience to two years of licensed experience (measured within a recent time window in the draft). DMV told the committee the adjustment was a department request intended to increase the pool of available instructors after class cancellations and reduced enrollments following the pandemic.

Committee response and next steps: Several members said the committee might not need new testimony from every DMV witness but asked to hear again from DMV’s training supervisor (who testified in an earlier hearing) if the panel wants more detail about how the changes have been implemented and whether they will reduce or expand instructor capacity. Representative White and other members pressed for clarity on how “two years” is measured in practice and whether the instructor training course’s riding-proficiency demonstration would blunt any risks from a shorter statutory requirement for motorcycle instructors.

Taper: The committee did not take final action at the session. Members signaled they would either proceed with the draft language if DMV confirms the implementation details or call additional witnesses (DMV training staff and stakeholders) before moving the language forward.