Crawford with Congressional Colleagues Introduces the Bipartisan DRIVE Safe Act
JONESBORO, A.R. – Today, Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR-01), Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04), Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3) introduced H.R 5563, the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Safe Act, which would help train a new generation of commercial truck drivers and get our commercial economy delivering again.
The DRIVE Safe Act simplifies a federal apprenticeship pilot program that allows an individual under the age of 21 who holds a state-issued commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate a commercial motor vehicle across state lines once the apprentice completes the program. The apprenticeship requires a 120-hour probationary period, including 280 hours of on-duty time, of which 160 hours must be drive time in a commercial motor vehicle. During this program, the apprentice will be accompanied by an experienced driver who is at least 26 years old and has a minimum of 2 years of commercial driving experience.
This legislation aims to address truck driver shortages, reduce supply chain disruptions, and enhance safety and job opportunities for young drivers. Currently, 49 states and the District of Columbia allow individuals 18 years or older to obtain a CDL for the exclusive use of intrastate commerce trucking; however, federal law prohibits individuals under 21 years old from transporting goods across state lines.
“Today, an 18-year-old truck driver can legally transport goods from West Memphis to Texarkana – a 270-mile route – so long as the trip remains within Arkansas,” said Congressman Crawford. “However, the same driver is prohibited by federal law from driving just 7 miles across the state line into Memphis, Tennessee. Allowing qualified 18-to-20-year-olds to operate a commercial vehicle across state lines, just as they already do within their home states, is a commonsense step toward addressing workforce shortages and improving supply chain efficiency.”
“From rural Maine to America’s busiest cities, truckers are essential for communities to get access to the goods they need,” said Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02). “Federal rules should make it easier, not harder, for young people to get a start in the industry. This bill is a simple, pragmatic way to encourage more careers in trucking so families, small businesses, and communities can get the goods they need, when they need them.”
“Our nation’s trucking industry is the backbone of our economy, employing millions of drivers who transport tons of goods and resources across the country every day,” said Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04). “The current shortage of truck drivers has resulted in higher shipping costs and increased delivery delays – putting a great deal of strain on our economy. The DRIVE Safe Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that creates career paths for our young American workers by aligning federal law with the 49 states that already allow 18-to 21-year-olds to transport goods interstate. I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation that will create greater employment opportunities, strengthen our supply chain, and promote a stronger economy.”
“Our country’s supply chains are only as strong as the workforce that keeps them moving,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The DRIVE Safe Act is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that not only helps address the truck driver shortage but also provides new opportunities for young Americans eager to enter the workforce.”
“The commercial trucking industry is a vital economic driver that impacts critical industries in Illinois and across the country,” said Rep. LaHood. “As I travel across my district, I hear about the persistent shortage of drivers and difficulties retaining personnel. This bipartisan legislation will expand the pool of applicants while maintaining high safety standards. I commend Chairman Crawford for introducing this commonsense bill that will help businesses of all sizes to grow and strengthen our supply chains.”
“My four-year-old has better spatial and kinetic intelligence than a lot of 40-year-olds I’ve met. For folks like us who live near a state boundary, regulations based on state borders just don’t make sense. Young people who are gifted with spatial and kinetic intelligence deserve the opportunity to build a rewarding career and achieve the American dream,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “When I held a round table with log truck drivers they pointed to this exact issue, and I was excited to see that Rep. Crawford’s office had already been working towards addressing it. Federal policy works best when we Members of Congress bring our local perspective and the voices of our community to the table, rather than an allegiance to a generic policy written without the nuance that only comes from listening and advocating for our communities.”
“This legislation will help create a pipeline of well-equipped professional drivers to safely and efficiently deliver ingredients and supplies to more than 1 million professional kitchens that serve America’s communities every day,” said Mala Parker, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at the International Foodservice Distributors Association. “IFDA thanks Rep. Crawford and the bipartisan champions of the DRIVE Safe Act for their leadership in addressing this issue, and we look forward to working with Congress to develop the transportation workforce of the future.”
“Building a 21st century supply chain requires building a workforce to power the trucking industry,” said Henry Hanscom, American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs. “The DRIVE Safe Act meets that challenge by providing career pathways into interstate trucking for qualified 18- to 20-year-olds while promoting enhanced safety and training standards that will benefit all road users. This common-sense proposal, which would stand on the firm foundation created by the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program, will open additional opportunities for young drivers, giving them access to a well-paying profession without the debt burden associated with other pathways. The American Trucking Associations applauds Representatives Crawford, Golden, Westerman, Carbajal, LaHood and Gluesenkamp Perez for their support.”
“We applaud Congressman Crawford for reintroducing the DRIVE Safe Act. This legislation provides young people a bridge between the traditional education timeline and the opportunity to start a career in the trucking industry, all while keeping safety at the heart of the profession.” Said Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Samples Newton.
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