Johnson: DOT is Asleep at the Wheel
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Josh Harder (D-CA) along with 85 of their colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Buttigieg urging quick reimplementation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program. While the trucking industry is short nearly 80,000 drivers, this Trump-era pilot program has been stalled by the Biden DOT for nearly a year amid ongoing supply chain delays.
Currently, 49 states and the District of Columbia 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.
"DOT is asleep at the wheel," said 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."
"Government needs to get out of the way and let our businesses and workers do what they do best," said 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."
During the 116th Congress, the DRIVE-Safe Act garnered over 140 cosponsors. This bill underscores congressional will to implement an Under-21 Commercial Driver Pilot Program and the Trump Administration took action to make it a reality.
Additionally, Johnson spoke on the state of the supply chain and trucking with industry leaders at an Agriculture Committee hearing yesterday (2:15:00 mark).
Read the full letter here or below:
November 4, 2021
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
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.
Sincerely,
###