My driver license is withheld by DMV....

Makes NO difference what some moron recruiter says, it matters what DMV says! They do not "withhold" your license because of the HME, they issue the license without it until TSA clears you then they add it. It's a very simple process. Call the DMV and find out whats actually happening.

 

It's not a hassle at all, take the test, get fingerprinted, wait for lazy gov't. Get HME added. Whatever is happening to this guy isn't normal.

 

28 - footers are probably a piece of cake

Overall the same principles but smaller scale.

This happened to my friend. He just had to pay off some fees and they released his license.

 

All that extra crap is a hassle. I worked for Stevens Transport for two years and had Hazmat back in the day before common sense died and I can count on one hand the times I actually hauled a Hazmat load. To me it's not worth it unless you absolutely have to get it or you're dead set on a carrier that requires it. Otherwise I'd go with the carrier that doesn't require it and forget about it.

 

This makes ZERO sense. I had to go through the process again within the last few years to get HM added back on to my CDL after I changed states and here's how the process worked (In WA and CA)
1. Pass CDL testing including written HM test
2. Go to DMV
3. VALID CDL issued without HM endorsement
4. Get fingerprints taken and paperwork for TSA done
5. TSA sends me (and in theory DMV) clearance letter. Took 3 weeks when I did this in 2006 and 4 weeks in 2012.
6. Take TSA letter to DMV
7. Get new license with HM endorsement

There's no reason for DMV to "hold" your license for lack of a TSA check. I'd suggest going down to the DMV and talking to them IN PERSON.

 

Doesn't make sense but then again you're dealing with the government. If a driver want hazmat and summit his info to tsa does he have to stop driving because of the dmv? Wait a few weeks without pay? If this is true I say wait it out then try again