​Oregon Can Issue Limited-Term Commercial Driving Privileges

Authority to issue limited-term commercial driving privileges was restored with the passage of Senate Bill 36 by the 2017 Oregon Legislature. On this basis, Oregon will once again issue and renew limited-term Commercial Driver Licenses and Commercial Learner Permits to otherwise eligible persons who provide proof they are lawfully present in the United States on a temporary basis.

Oregon already issues limited-term driver licenses and permits authorizing operation of non-commercial motor vehicles to drivers who prove temporary lawful presence in the United States. Oregon previously issued and renewed limited-term commercial driver licenses, but legislation passed in 2013 ended the authority to do so on July 8, 2015. Licenses issued prior to that date remain valid until their expiration.

Oregon DMV expects to make limited-term Commercial Driver Licenses and Commercial Learner Permits available starting Monday, Sept. 11. However, applicants from Canada and Mexico with temporary work authorization in the U.S. are not eligible because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has determined that commercial licenses issued by Canadian provinces and territories, and the United Mexican States, meet the standards established by FMCSA regulations. Therefore, under 49 CFR 383.21 and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s determination described in 49 CFR 383.23, a Mexican or Canadian driver must have a CDL from their home country to legally operate a CMV in the United States.

Any time you need to visit a DMV office, first check http://OregonDMV.com/ to find office hours and locations, and to make sure you have everything you need before your visit. You also can do some DMV business from home at http://OregonDMV.com/. You can renew your vehicle registration, file a change of address or file notice of the sale of your vehicle online without getting in line at an office.