JUNE 10, 2009

Automated testing now in 80 Secretary of State offices

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that 80 branch offices now have automated testing stations for the convenience of commercial driver license (CDL) applicants.

Land's initiative supports the trucking industry and other business sectors that rely on commercial drivers by providing CDL applicants with a more efficient, effective learning tool.

"We want Michigan residents to be successful in the work force," Land said. "That's especially true in this challenging economy. We're pleased that our touch-screen technology helps commercial drivers meet their goals. From shortening branch office visits to reinforcing the knowledge required of commercial drivers, this paperless system is one more example of how we're serving our customers. Government should provide solutions rather than barriers. That's what we're all about at the Department of State."

In 2008 Land secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to install 145 kiosks in 40 offices. This year, she launched another wave of customer conveniences that included the addition of 142 kiosks in 40 more offices with a second grant from FMCSA. Those installations have been completed.

Benefits of the automated system include:

• eliminating paper printouts for greater efficiency.
• test questions and answers that are scrambled to prevent cheating.
• immediate test feedback for applicants. Green and red lights show which questions were answered correctly and which were not.
• maintaining the privacy of test results. Applicants learn their results at the kiosk rather than at the office counter.
• reducing the time that office employees must spend with an applicant by about 13 minutes, which is time they can devote to other customers.

Staff queue the test for applicants and can monitor it from a separate workstation.

CDLs are required for people who want to operate the following commercial vehicles:

• single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
• combination vehicles towing a trailer or other vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more when the gross combination weight rating is 26,001 pounds or more.
• vehicles designed to transport 16 people or more.
• or a vehicle that carries hazardous materials.

Offices with recently installed kiosks are Adrian, Allegan, Alma, Bad Axe, Bay County PLUS, Chelsea, Coldwater, Davison, Dearborn, Detroit Vernor, Flint West, Frankenmuth, Northeast Kent County PLUS, Hastings, Ottawa County PLUS, Howell, Hudsonville, Inkster, Ionia, Jackson Downtown, Mason, Midland, Monroe, Mount Morris, Mount Pleasant, Muskegon, Owosso, St. Clair County PLUS, Saginaw Northwest, Shelby Township, Southfield, Sparta, St. Johns, Sterling Heights, Temperance, Trenton, Warren 12 Mile, Southwest Macomb County PLUS, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti.

Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos for more information on CDL requirements or Department of State services.