This message is to update the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) community on the current status of the CDLIS Modernization project and to inform you of additional resources that will soon be available and the anticipated changes that are coming.
To date, states have been provided with the necessary information to begin the development phase of the CDLIS Modernization effort. AAMVA published an updated CDLIS System Specification (Release 5.0) in June 2009, outlining the functional requirements associated with this effort. AAMVA also published a time-line of milestones and implementation considerations for states to use as they prepare for upcoming tasks. During the summer, AAMVA hosted a series of webinars to provide guidance on specific components of the new specifications. Finally, AAMVA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provided additional information at the CDL IT Users Workshop in September 2009.
As this project moves forward, AAMVA will continue to provide training sessions via webinar. Beginning in the spring of 2010, these training sessions will address specific questions related to the implementation of CDLIS Modernization posed by the membership. These sessions will be geared towards smaller, regional audiences to help facilitate interactive participation and more detailed exchange of information.
At the CDL IT Workshop in September 2009, states repeatedly stressed their desire that FMCSA and AAMVA effectively manage change during the remainder of the effort. Specifically, states asked that changes to the system requirements be minimal and communicated as soon as possible to reduce the impact of implementation efforts by the states as they strive to meet the final implementation deadline of Jan. 30, 2012.
To that end, AAMVA will be forming a new CDLIS Working Group to help manage change and address questions as we move forward. It is FMCSA and AAMVA's intention to only introduce changes if absolutely necessary. All changes deemed non-critical will be deferred until after the implementation deadline for CDLIS Modernization.
Based on known issues and feedback from states thus far, FMCSA and AAMVA have determined that the following critical changes must be addressed:
- ACD Code changes as reflected in the October release of the ACD Manual. These changes have been implemented in CDLIS production effective November 2009.
- Removal of the proposed new transaction called the History Search Inquiry (CD19).
- Removal of the DHR component of the MPR/DHR Data Quality Cleanup (CD31) for day 1 implementation.
- Milestone validation changes associated with driver history responses (Milestone #3), scheduled for production release effective March 2010.
- Validation changes to allow Canadian Provinces and Mexico to be specified as the State of Conviction (SOC) and Mexico as the State of Withdrawal (SOW) on the history messages.
- Provision to send the SSN and DOB in response messages sent from the Central Site.
FMCSA and the CDLIS Modernization Working Group recognize the importance of having accurate and complete documentation for states to use during this effort, and therefore approved AAMVA to release an updated version of CDLIS System Specifications (Release 5.1). Release 5.1, which incorporates the above changes as well as corrections identified during the review process, is now available for download from the AAMVA Web site at http://www.aamva.org/TechServices/AppServ/CDLIS/Documentation.html.
An associated State Procedures Manual that complements the System Specifications will be made available for download at the same location as of Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
Any subsequent change requests will be evaluated by the new CDLIS Working Group, and will only be implemented after a full impact assessment determines they are necessary, and with approval from the CDLIS Working Group and FMCSA. If changes are required, they will be announced as quickly as possible through all available means. The changes will be well-documented and communicated clearly.
If you have questions related to the documentation, timelines, or technical aspects of the CDLIS Modernization effort, please contact Pamela Dsa of AAMVA at pdsa@aamva.org.
If you have general questions related to the Federal requirements associated with the CDLIS Modernization effort, please contact Brandon Poarch of FMCSA at brandon.poarch@dot.gov.