Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Josh Harder (D-CA) introduced a bill to help address supply chain shortages and increase the number of truck drivers transporting goods in the U.S. Their bill, the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act, would streamline burdensome licensing regulations by making permanent several waivers that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic last November.
The Senate companion legislation is sponsored by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
"Some of the biggest issues I hear about in central and west-central Illinois are worker and trucking shortages," said Rep. LaHood. "As we face unprecedented supply chain challenges, this legislation will help streamline the process to obtain a commercial driver’s license and reduce unnecessary red tape. The downstream economic effects of the driver shortage are immeasurable and American families continue to face further disruption in the delivery of groceries, medical supplies, and business inventories across the nation. I am proud to join this bipartisan and bicameral group to introduce this commonsense legislation that will give companies the ability to hire qualified, safe drivers and strengthen the economy in Illinois."
“We are always grateful when we see practical changes made to regulations. The FMCSA waivers laid out in the LICENSE Act have been effective in streamlining the CDL process without compromising care or safety in any way. These are the kind of win-win regulatory upgrades that need to become permanent. We applaud Rep. LaHood for recognizing this, and lend our support to the LICENSE Act.” Brent Nussbaum, CEO, Nussbaum Transportation in Hudson, Illinois.
“From the onset of the pandemic, these waivers have reduced administrative burdens for Americans working towards obtaining their CDLs and pursuing careers in trucking. It makes sense to continue to allow drivers looking to get their CDLs to be able to do so as frictionlessly as possible, while also maintaining the safety standards required of license seekers,” said ATA Vice President of Safety Policy Dan Horvath.
Background:
The bill would allow state and third-party examiners who have maintained a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) test examiner certification and have previously completed a CDL skills test examiner training course to administer the CDL knowledge test without completing a CDL knowledge test training course. The continued availability of CDL knowledge testing will help maintain an adequate and sustained supply of trained truck drivers.
It would also remove the requirement that CDL holders who accompany commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders be seated in the front seat – as long as they are elsewhere in the cab. If the CLP holder passed their road tests and are simply waiting to receive the physical copy of their CDL, this regulation would reduce a regulatory burden on imminent CDL holders.
Finally, the bill would allow states to administer driving skills tests to applicants from other states. This will streamline the credentialing process and allow future truck drivers to be tested where they live, rather than solely where they received training.
To read the bill, click here.
Groups Supporting:
American Trucking Association (ATA)
National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC)
Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
Intermodal Carriers Conference (IMCC)
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