Georgia's Department of Driver Services Takes Action Against CDL Shortages

The past decade inspired a noticeable concern among the commercial trucking industry and how a shortage of drivers impacts the economy and transportation of goods within the country. Truckers are bring necessities and commodities to businesses-hundreds of businesses were entirely dependent upon them during one or more steps within the supply chain. The American Trucking Association (ATA) believes that the nation was short 80,000 drivers last year and their figures indicate that 19,200 additional drivers are needed to meet pre-pandemic estimates.

Georgia recently suffered a decrease in the number of trucks registered for transporting as well as heavy truck drivers from 2019 to 2020, yet the number of Class A CDL holders within the state slightly rose. Georgia's Department of Driver Services (DDS) and members of the CDL stakeholder group have begun taking steps to deal with Executive Order 11.23.2021. While Georgia is concerned with its own needs, the stakeholder group encourages interagency collaboration. The following recommendations indicate a balance between feasibility, cost and implementation that can aid Georgia's trucker shortage.

• Reduce waiting times for applicants by raising the number of locations equipped for CDL Road Skills Tests, shorten the delay to retry a failed test and adjust tests to ignore E restrictions.
• Increase the number of third-party Road Skills Testers by expanding the tester program to commercial driving and trade schools, lower fleet size minimums for TPT-site-eligibility and cross-promote Georgia's existing TPT programs.
• Broaden and improve applicant access to CDL preparatory resources.
• Continue promotion of 18-20-year-olds operating commercial vehicles within interstate commerce and raise the HOPE Career Grant.
• Review statutes and policies over disqualifying CDLs.
• Collaborate with the Departments of Defense and Corrections, as well as Veterans Services.
• Analyze how effective the CDL Knowledge test is as a pass/fail exam.