Harder Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Immediate Fix to Truck Driver Shortage
US is facing an 80,000 driver shortage; Biden administration has stalled plan to get more drivers on the road
WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives Josh Harder (CA-10) and Dusty Johnson (SD-At Large) along with 78 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Buttigieg urging quick implementation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program. With the trucking industry short nearly 80,000 drivers, this pilot program will be essential to get more truckers on the road safely and our economy back on track. Yet the Biden Administration has stalled this program for nearly a year amid ongoing supply chain delays. Currently, 49 states and the District of Columbia already allow 18 to 20-year-old commercial driver license (CDL) holders to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in intrastate commerce but these same drivers, who may have been driving safely for three years, are unable to drive across state lines.
"Government needs to get out of the way and let our businesses and workers do what they do best," said Rep. Harder. "I'm calling on the Biden Administration to cut the ridiculous red tape so our truck drivers can get to work and our economy can get moving again."
"DOT is asleep at the wheel," said Rep. Johnson. "America is dealing with a supply chain crisis and the Biden Administration isn't taking tangible steps to fix the problem. This pilot program could add more than 3,000 truck drivers to an industry that desperately needs workers."
Read the full letter below and online here.
Dear Secretary Buttigieg,
Amid the growing supply chain crisis, drivers in the trucking industry have stepped up to ensure the timely delivery of goods. Yet even with their efforts, there simply aren't enough truckers on the road to meet the demand.[1] Given this, we urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) to proceed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program.
Currently, only commercial driver's license (CDL) holders over the age of 21 can operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. However, 49 states and the District of Columbia already allow 18 to 20-year-old CDL holders to operate CMVs in intrastate commerce. Accordingly, Congress supported, and the Trump Administration began, the process to implement the FMCSA's Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program to allow drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. This new pilot program would create a road map to drastically increase the number of truck drivers and alleviate the current crisis. Yet, the DOT has not taken action to move this program forward.[2]
As our supply chain issues continue to grow, we should be doing everything we can to fix the problem. Therefore, we urge implementation of FMCSA's Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program. It's critical that we pursue all avenues to alleviate the supply chain crisis and get goods moving again.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. We look forward to your prompt response.
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