New licensing test removes barriers, opens path to employment
Ohioans who are deaf or hearing impaired will now have the opportunity to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), thanks to collaboration between state agencies.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) have partnered to develop procedures which allow individuals who qualify for a hearing exemption waiver to train and test for a CDL.
OOD approached BMV to collaborate on this project as an outgrowth of the Governor’s Workforce Integration Task Force (WIT). The goal was to better understand the current employment environment for deaf and blind communities, and as a result, develop effective strategies aimed at helping these citizens reach their highest employment potential.
The CDL trucking driving industry is an in-demand occupation supporting Ohio’s economy. From April 14, 2016, through May 13, 2016, more than 28,000 job openings with a CDL requirement were posted. The trucking industry will greatly benefit from a larger pool of qualified candidates.
To find out more about an in-demand career in the transportation industry visit: OhioMeansJobs.com or your county’s OhioMeansJobs Center.
