Existing commercial Drivers sit certification

Nassau, Bahamas - On the heels of the Bahamas government’s announcement of a mandatory Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Motor Vehicle Training School has provided exceptional service to local companies that have already collectively certified hundreds of drivers through the school to date. There are currently hundreds more already moving through the program ahead of the law taking effect January 1st 2023. 

“I am a seasoned driver in the industry and was very impressed with the training in class and in the field,” said Mr. Samuel Lightbourne Sr. owner of Lil Sam & Sons Trucking.

“The level of training is first class and I applaud the efforts of the school and the government” he added.

Motor Vehicle Training School is the only Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certification school in the Bahamas. The school offers training and certification for Class A, B and C drivers. Anyone Twenty-One years of age or older can participate in a training program at the school. Existing commercial drivers Eighteen years of age or older can participate in the certification course. 

While trucking, hauling and mass transportation industries are the primary stakeholders impacted by the mandatory Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) law of the Bahamas; all road users are positively impacted as well. The certification of drivers in these industries will indicate that they have the essential knowledge to safely and efficiently operate a commercial vehicle. This will make it safer for all road users and pedestrians. 

Operators of heavy duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, heavy equipment operators and placarded hazardous material vehicle drivers must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by the January deadline in order to be on any public road in the Bahamas. Failing to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) will be a criminal offense for any one operating these vehicles.  

Drivers carrying Hazardous Materials, passengers or Tankers must complete additional training to receive their Hazardous Materials or Tankers Endorsement. This will extend their training by only one day. The entire certification course for existing drivers is between five to seven days with only two days spent in the classroom. All classes of commercial drivers are mandated to recertify every three years. 

The first step in obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is to become certified by the Motor Vehicle Training School. Armed with a certificate from the school, a driver can then take his certificate, passport, NIB Card and a valid driver’s license to the Road Traffic Department for processing. 

The Motor Vehicle Training School is based in Nassau, Bahamas but will be making announcements of training dates and other details for their visits to the various family islands. Training has already been conducted in Grand Bahama and is being scheduled currently for Abaco. More training will be conducted in these islands and the other surrounding islands as time progresses. This will therefore make obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License accessible and affordable to family islanders as well.