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October 4, 2000 9:25 AM, EDT

Federal and state investigators say a Georgia third-party tester sold over 500 CDLs to unqualified applicants during the past two years.

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Panel: Oversight of Licensers Needed (Sept. 19) After 14 Years, CDL Program Gets an Overhaul (Sept. 18) CVSA to Test State CDL Effectiveness (Sept. 18) Florida CDL Scandal Deepens (June 28)

Similar trucker-licensing scandals in Florida and Illinois led to the formation of a federal blue-ribbon panel that is putting the finishing touches on recommendations to improve the CDL program. Early reports indicate the lack of oversight of third-party licensers is one of the key weaknesses identified by the panel.

Georgia State Patrol officials arrested a third-party examiner for selling CDLs to more than 520 truck and bus drivers who got licenses without passing proper road tests.

Pending the outcome of an on-going inquiry, the man was not named, nor was the driving school where he worked.

For the full story, see the Oct. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. .