No wait CDL road testing in Georgia, DDS eliminates backlog

ATLANTA— Customers making Commercial Driver’s License road test reservations can now expect a dramatically shorter wait—from six weeks to just a few days, the Georgia Department of Driver Services(DDS) announced this week.

Less than two years after Gov. Brian Kemp released recommendations to address Commercial Driver Shortages, DDS has eliminated the backlog of CDL road test reservations, officials said. The reduction in wait time, officials said, reflects DDS’s ongoing commitment to boosting service efficiency and supporting Georgia’s commercial transportation industry. 

“One of the drivers of record economic growth Georgia has experienced in recent years is our robust supply chain network, of which a critical cog is our commercial drivers,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “Thanks to Commissioner Moore and his incredible team at DDS, that strength is improving even more as we make it easier for Georgians to pursue success in this field.”

Under the governor’s direction, DDS established a Commercial Vehicle Task Force in 2022 to address supply chain challenges and pressures within the trucking industry. Implementing the Task Force’s recommendations has resulted in no-wait CDL testing statewide.

“The reduction in wait times for commercial vehicle tests represents a major step forward in our mission to better serve the needs of Georgia’s commercial drivers and support our economy,” said DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “We understand the critical role that commercial drivers play in our state’s economy, and we are proud to offer this improvement to help them get on the road more quickly.” 

Key highlights include:

• Reduced Wait Time: Customers can now schedule and complete their commercial vehicle tests within a few days, a substantial reduction from the previous 6-week wait.
• Increased Testing Capacity: Additional testing slots and resources have been allocated to accommodate the increased demand for commercial vehicle tests with even more CDL testing sites scheduled to open this fall in Douglasville and Hazelhurst.
• Modernized Road Testing: DDS is transitioning to a new, federally-approved Modernized Testing process that reduces the testing footprint and ensures that applicants are skilled in maneuvers most common to the industry.
• Third-Party Testers: Expansion of the certified Third-Party Tester Program now includes commercial driving training and trade schools.

For more information visit www.dds.georgia.gov and also consider utilizing Online Services to conduct many transactions