US Senate addresses driver shortages

U.S. senators reintroduced legislation Tuesday to address the national driver shortage, and to enhance safety training and job opportunities for young drivers. The DRIVE-Safe Act would establish an apprenticeship program that would allow for the legal operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce by CDL holders under the age of 21. The apprenticeship training program would help ensure the drivers are trained "beyond current standards," while instituting rigorous safety standards and performance benchmarks. The legislation is cosponsored by several senators, including U.S. senators in Texas, West Virginia and Indiana.

“Hoosiers know Indiana as the crossroads of America thanks to our strong infrastructure network and the numerous logistics providers that call Indiana home. We understand more than anyone the need to develop a responsible pathway to safely train more drivers,” Senator Todd Young, R-Indiana, says. “This apprenticeship program will address the driver shortage, create new career opportunities for young Hoosiers and substantially raise training standards to ensure safety on the roads.”

At age 18, young adults become eligible to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. However, federal law prohibits young operators from moving goods from state to state until they are 21.

The apprenticeship program established by the DRIVE-Safe Act would require young drivers to complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time with an experienced driver in the cab with them. All trucks used for training in the program must be equipped with safety technology, including active braking collision mitigation systems, a video event capture system and a speed governor set at 65 miles per hour or below.

“Providing this workforce development opportunity for young drivers will lead to more comprehensive training, expanded career options and access to higher paying jobs,” Senator Jon Tester, D-Montana, says. “This bipartisan bill will also provide a big boost to Montana communities that rely almost exclusively on trucks to move goods.”

The national driver shortage has impacted the waste and recycling industries, causing some companies to train drivers and provide in-house training programs to help employees study for their CDL exam.

“The current driver shortage puts our dynamic economy at risk and closes off high-paying trucking careers to young Americans,” Representative Trey Hollingsworth says. “The DRIVE-Safe Act is an opportunity to improve the lives of many young Americans, give them opportunities for advancement, increase safety and skills training, and enhance the economy by eliminating the obstacles currently preventing the trucking industry from alleviating its workforce shortage.”