FMCSA rejects charity's request for CDL exemption

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rejected a charity’s request to let its drivers operate without a CDL and to exempt the group from the ELD mandate.

Diamond Excursions Ladies Edition, doing business as Project Gap, asked in November 2025 for the exemptions. The nonprofit said it delivers donated goods to underserved communities and areas affected by natural disasters, and said both rules posed a “significant burden” on its work.

In its application, Executive Director Iliana Oscar wrote, “Our commercial motor vehicle is used exclusively for charitable purposes,” and said the group uses unpaid volunteer drivers for donation collection, community distribution events and disaster relief missions.

FMCSA received 81 comments on the request. Seventy-five opposed the CDL exemption. Twelve commenters who opposed the CDL exemption said they supported exempting the group from the ELD mandate.

In a notice published in the Federal Register on Friday, July 17, FMCSA said the request did not meet the agency’s exemption requirements. The agency said there was not a sufficient basis to include relief from ELD and CDL requirements in response to emergencies and natural disasters.

FMCSA also said applicants should review whether practical alternatives already exist, including using smaller CMVs that do not require a CDL and using existing exceptions to the ELD requirement.