One good CDL deserves another

WASHINGTON — Volvo Trucks North America has applied for an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirement for commercial vehicle drivers to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Volvo requests that the exemption cover 11 Swedish engineers and technicians who will test-drive new trucks for Volvo on U.S. highways. All 11 Volvo employees hold a valid Swedish CDL.

Volvo states the exemption is needed to allow required testing of its trucks under various climatic and environmental conditions within the U.S.

Volvo says the knowledge and skills of the Swedish drivers provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by complying with the U.S. requirements.