Proposal to Ease Under-21 Truck Driver Apprenticeship Gains Support
Bill targets lowering apprenticeship hurdles for 18-20 year-old aspiring commercial motor vehicle operators.
A new legislative proposal is gaining strong support from the major carriers in the United States, aimed at reducing barriers to the under-21 truck driver apprenticeship pilot program initiated by the Biden administration.
Reps. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas, and Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, introduced the DRIVE Safe Integrity Act on Wednesday. This act seeks to potentially eliminate a requirement in the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program that forces drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 to join the U.S. Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship program if they want to participate.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which authorized the pilot program under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, did not include the Department of Labor’s requirement. The draft copy of the bill states that the Secretary of Transportation should remove any additional requirements beyond what the IIJA mandates in order to increase participation rates and gather sufficient data.
The proposed legislation instructs the U.S. Department of Transportation to review the safety data within a year after the pilot program concludes. The goal is to establish regulations for a permanent apprenticeship program for commercial drivers aged 18 to 20.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA), which previously failed to convince the FMCSA to eliminate the Department of Labor’s requirement, strongly supports this proposal as a means of addressing the shortage of truck drivers.
ATA President Backs Bill to Revitalize Trucking Apprenticeship Program
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear expressed his endorsement, stating, “This legislation offers a timely and essential trucking workforce and supply chain solution, built off years of broad bipartisan Congressional support.”
The ATA highlighted that the SDAP had a maximum limit of 3,000 participating drivers at any given time, but only a small number of drivers have enrolled so far. The organization attributed this low participation to the additional requirements imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation that were not included in the bipartisan infrastructure law. The DRIVE Safe Integrity Act aims to rectify this and revitalize the pilot program.
Rep. Rick Crawford, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s highway subcommittee, intends to incorporate this bill and several others into a comprehensive supply chain legislation package. The package is currently being developed by the committee and is scheduled for markup next week.
Crawford believes that these bills effectively address concerns regarding the supply chain and offer solutions that will enhance the movement of goods throughout the country for years to come. He expressed his anticipation for collaborating with his colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to develop a robust package that removes barriers, improves efficiency, and directs investments.
Infrastructure and Cargo Bills Enhance Efficiency and Approval Process
Among the other bills that Crawford aims to include in the package is the One Federal Decision for All Act, which seeks to streamline the approval process for infrastructure projects by consolidating the environmental review process across multiple government agencies. Currently applicable to highway projects, this bill would expand its scope to include port, aviation, and pipeline projects.
Another bill, H.R. 3318, addresses the issue of dry bulk cargo, such as flour, which tends to shift during transportation and may lead to non-compliance with weight-per-axle regulations. This legislation proposes allowing a weight variance of 10% per axle for dry bulk haulers.
Ryan Streblow, President and CEO of the National Tank Truck Carriers, applauded H.R. 3318, stating, “Thanks to H.R. 3318… tank trucks hauling essential goods like flour and grain can be granted an axle weight variance to maximize their loads while remaining within current federal weight guidelines.” This variance would result in increased efficiency, reduced road congestion, and lower costs for the American public.
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