Highlighting the challenges posed by limited highway infrastructure, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently granted Hawaii a specific exemption from certain aspects of its commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test. This exemption, announced earlier this week, addresses Hawaii’s concerns and aims to facilitate CDL issuance for drivers on the islands of Lanai and Molokai, where unique driving conditions prevail.
“The agency grants this exemption because the islands of Lanai and Molokai do not have the highway infrastructure to support a demonstration of certain on-road safe driving skills required by the CDL skills test requirements,” FMCSA wrote.
Last year, Hawaii formally requested these exemptions, underscoring the need for a tailored approach due to the distinct characteristics of the islands’ roadways. Standard regulations mandate that CDL applicants must demonstrate specific on-road safe-driving skills, such as choosing safe gaps for changing lanes, passing vehicles, and entering traffic. However, recognizing the unique challenges presented by the highway infrastructure on Lanai and Molokai, Hawaii proposed a restricted CDL that focuses on essential skills, excluding certain on-road maneuvers.
“The state of Hawaii maintains that the islands of Lanai and Molokai do not have at least 2 miles of a straight section of urban business street and at least 2 miles of an expressway or highway section with multiple lanes going in each direction to allow the ability to legally change lanes,” FMCSA wrote.
Under the granted exemption, drivers who pass a limited skills test would receive a restricted CDL. Notably, these drivers would be excused from demonstrating on-road skills such as changing lanes, passing, and signaling appropriately when changing direction in traffic. The exemption applies exclusively to CDL applicants undergoing the skills test on the islands of Lanai and Molokai, confining the drivers to operate commercial motor vehicles solely on these two islands.
“The information provided by the state supports the state’s assertion that the islands of Lanai and Molokai lack the highway infrastructure to permit CDL applicants to demonstrate their ability to signal appropriately when changing direction in traffic, and the ability to choose a safe gap for changing lanes, passing other vehicles and crossing or entering traffic,” FMCSA wrote. “Therefore, CDL applicants who drive a CMV only on the islands of Lanai and Molokai do not need to demonstrate those skills to obtain their restricted CDL.”
The exemption period began on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and is slated to continue through Feb. 20, 2026. During this time, the FMCSA received no opposition to the proposed exemption, signifying a general acceptance of the need for a nuanced approach to CDL testing in the unique driving conditions presented by the Hawaiian Islands.
Source: Land Line
