FMCSA entered into a cooperative agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicles (AAMVA) to initiate a two-phase CDL 3rd-Party Testing Anti-Fraud project. The goal of the project is to develop and implement a system for detecting and deterring fraud during the commercial skills testing portion of the CDL application process. As part of this project, FMCSA funded the CDL Skills Test Information Management System (CSTIMS), which applies not only to 3rd-party testers, but all CDL testers. The CSTIMS is web-based and manages the information storage and retrieval process for all skills tests, and prevents and detects fraud.

In Phase I of the project, business requirements were defined, technology was assessed, and design specifications developed for a software prototype. In Phase II, the software prototype was developed and named the CSTIMS. It was pilot tested and evaluated in four volunteer states (Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Dakota) in 2006. The experience in using the CSTIMS by these states was so positive that they requested to continue to use the CSTIMS servers beyond the conclusion of the pilot test phase. FMSCA is continuing to fund the continued operation of the servers and will be making needed enhancements to facilitate widespread deployment of the CSTIMS to the states. Additional benefits from the use of the CSTIMS beyond detection and prevention of CDL skills-testing fraud for states is that it streamlines the management of the commercial skills testing portion of the CDL application process, thereby saving motor vehicle administrators time, and it also prevents costly errors.

In 2008, FMCSA funded AAMVA to make enhancements and improvements categorized as critical. These include incorporation of the 2005 CDL Test Model and capability to make changes/corrections to the data, replacement of the current multiple log-in ID with a single log-in ID and composite set of permissions, reduction of repetitive/redundant data entries, streamline screen navigation, and expansion of skills test results database. The enhancements and improvements to CSTIMS are anticipated to be completed by April 2010.