Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will expand the availability of road tests for anyone looking to get their commercial driver licenses, as a way to address a shortage of truck and bus drivers. Motor vehicle officials will hold a public hearing on January 26 to address the question of how to create more capacity for state-run sites and road tests by allowing qualified third parties to offer them. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "By enabling third parties to give the road test for truck and bus drivers, we will create new avenues for New Yorkers to begin exciting careers, for our children to get to school, and to ensure that vital goods get where they need to be." The move comes as truck driver shortages have created supply chain troubles nationwide, while in some cases, a shortage of school bus drivers have forced school districts to turn to remote learning. Republican state Sen. Mike Martucci, the former owner and operator of a school bus company, applauded the move to turn to third party entities to provide the tests. Martucci said, "...I am so excited Governor Hochul has taken up this important cause by directing the Department of Motor Vehicles to initiate a regulatory proceeding that will make third party testing a reality in New York." Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.