Commercial driver’s license (CDL) workflow study : final report.

Martin, Andrew; Wallace, Candice; Keathley, Valerie; Walton, Jennifer · 2016 · ROSA P / University of Kentucky Transportation Center

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Summary

This study addresses the impending loss of Federally Funded, Time-Limited (FFTL) funding for Kentucky’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ceased funding FFTL employees who handle critical administrative tasks, such as document verification and record updates, necessary for federal compliance under 49 CFR 383 and 384. Failure to maintain compliance risks decertification and the loss of significant federal transportation funding. The research aimed to identify workflow efficiencies and alternative funding mechanisms to ensure the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) can continue meeting federal mandates. The Kentucky Transportation Center conducted a comprehensive analysis involving several methods. Researchers delineated federal and state CDL requirements, mapped current workflow processes, and surveyed CDL issuance practices in other states to benchmark staffing and automation levels. They also reviewed the status of CDL workflow automation projects funded by the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) and analyzed labor costs associated with FFTL employees. The study evaluated three specific funding alternatives: increasing CDL license fees, implementing a hybrid funding model combining fee increases with reallocated revenue, and establishing a dedicated revenue stream from the state’s Road Fund. The findings highlight that FFTL staff are essential for meeting the federal 10-day processing mandate for CDL records. The study identified that while proposed web-based applications for electronic submission of self-certification and medical forms could reduce labor-intensive tasks like scanning and phone calls, they do not address all inefficiencies, such as database errors and manual verification of out-of-state records. The analysis of funding options demonstrated that all three proposed mechanisms could generate sufficient revenue to cover current and future labor costs, though each requires legislative action. The report also noted significant technical glitches in the Kentucky Driver License Information System (KDLIS) that hinder efficiency. The significance of this work lies in its provision of actionable policy options for state lawmakers to prevent non-compliance penalties. The authors recommend further study to quantify the efficiency gains of proposed web applications before finalizing long-term funding strategies. They also urge better coordination between CDL staff and technology developers to prioritize system repairs and automation. Ultimately, the report serves as a critical guide for stabilizing the CDL program’s workflow and ensuring Kentucky maintains its federal certification and associated funding streams.

Key finding

Kentucky must implement one of three alternative funding mechanisms to replace withdrawn federal temporary labor and maintain compliance with federal Commercial Driver's License processing mandates.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• licensing policy