DPS

06/23/2020

This is just a reminder that due to COVID-19, the Driver License offices are currently working with limited services.

They are not allowing drivers to walk in and renew their CDLs and/or DLs. Any one that has expired after March 13, 2020 is currently being waived and allowed to drive on an expired DL and/or CDL. Please see the 1st and 2nd paragraphs of the following link for more information: https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/appointments.htm

Anyone wishing to schedule an appointment for CDL tests must visit the above link to request an appointment. The offices are not taking phone calls or walk ins at this time. Please be advised that due to limited services and limited employees in the offices, they are experiencing a backlog and long wait times for appointments.

Please share this information with all employees and drivers within your district.

For Immediate Distribution | May 21, 2020 | (512) 463-1826

Governor Abbott, DPS Announce Limited Reopening Of Driver License Offices

Limited Services By Appointment Only As Part Of Phased Approach

AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will begin a phased opening of driver license offices starting May 26th with limited service offerings. As part of this opening plan, DPS will launch a statewide driver license (DL) appointment system that allows customers to book appointments up to six months in advance. The limited services being offered will be by appointment only.

"This phased opening of our driver license offices and the launch of DPS' online appointment system prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and ensures Texans have access to the services they need at their local driver license offices," said Governor Abbott. "I thank DPS for developing this safe and strategic plan to open their offices and for launching a new appointment system to streamline our driver license services."

The four-phase plan for the opening of driver license offices is as follows:

Phase 1: Offices in DPS’ Northwest and West Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning May 26, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 22 at 1 p.m.
Phase 2: Offices in DPS’ South and Central Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning May 29, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 26 at 1 p.m.
Phase 3: Offices in DPS’ North and Southeast Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning June 3, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 29 at 1 p.m.
Phase 4 will allow customers to schedule an appointment for all DL office transactions anywhere in the state and is expected to begin midsummer. DPS will announce details on this phase at a later date. Extension for expiration dates will remain in effect until phase 4 is implemented.

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CDL Licensing

For information regarding CDL testing and CDL expiration dates, please visit the following link: https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/covid-19.htm

A list of the sites that are performing CDL tests along with a contact email address can be found in the 2nd paragraph.

Medical certificates:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily waived compliance for medical certificates expiring from March 1, 2020 until June 30, 2020. DPS will continue to process medical certificates received and will discontinue the downgrade of CDLs for expired medical certificates. Medical certificates can be submitted to DPS by email

CDLMedCert@dps.texas.gov or by fax 512-424-2002.

As a result of COVID-19, it is necessary to implement the following temporary extension dates related to school bus driver enrollment and certification card expiration dates. Be advised, full implementation as stated in 37 TAC, Part 1, Chapter 14, Subchapters B & C will resume back to regular business upon the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. A follow-up email will be sent out when this occurs.

Enrollment cards:

An enrollment card displaying an expired date will be considered valid if both of these conditions are met:

The expiration date on the enrollment card is on or after March 13, 2020; AND
The expired date is within 60 days of the end of the State of Disaster, which will be the date the department provides public notice that normal issuance procedures have resumed.

Any driver with an enrollment card that does not fall within these conditions can be issued a 2nd enrollment card but only if approved by the service center.

Please remember that enrollment cards are to only be issued to drivers enrolled in the next available certification course, not the recertification course.

Certification and/or Recertification cards:

A certification and/or recertification card displaying an expired date will be considered valid if both of these conditions are met:

The expiration date on the cert/recert card is on or after March 13, 2020; AND
The expired date is within 60 days of the end of the State of Disaster, which will be the date the department provides public notice that normal issuance procedures have resumed.

With several ESCs offering recertification courses online, please encourage folks to take advantage of that opportunity. I predict there will be a significant back log of classes and this will help with classroom availability. For those that are taking the online course, the course must be completed within the 14 days but only the proctored test is temporarily being waived to be administered outside of the 14 days. Therefore, the proctored test must be administered within 60 days of the end of the State of Disaster. If a driver starts the online course, they must complete it online or restart the whole thing over in a classroom course. No online course will be transferred to a classroom course.

Guidance for Meal Delivery

For those that are using school buses to deliver lunches/meals, please make sure drivers are not using the loading lights when they are stopping the bus.

It is a violation of Texas Transportation Code 547.701(c) (see below) to operate the loading lights if the bus is NOT loading or unloading students.

547.701(c) When a school bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus, the operator of the bus shall activate all flashing warning signal lights and other equipment on the bus designed to warn other drivers that the bus is stopping to load or unload children. A person may not operate such a light or other equipment except when the bus is being stopped or is stopped on a highway to permit students to board or exit the bus.