Senators Advance Bill to Exclude Small Businesses from New CDL Regulations

A new bill proposed by the United States Senate would exempt some truck drivers from regulations stipulated by the Entry Level Driver Training Act, or ELDT. The bill, known as the Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers, or TRUCKS, Act is cosponsored by two Republican senators, Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Senator Mike Rounds of South Carolina. The key provision of the TRUCKS Act is that it would exempt small businesses from regulations established in the ELDT Act. Should the TRUCKS Act become law, states would be able to give businesses with 9 CDLs or less a Small Business Restricted CDL. Farms, school districts, and municipal governments would also be excluded from ELDT provisions.

In speaking about the bill, Senator Cramer chastised the Biden administration for making it more difficult for businesses to operate during a time fraught with supply chain problems and a shortage of qualified CDL drivers. In standing behind the TRUCKS Act, Cramer argues that the Senate will facilitate interstate commerce and not stand in the way of small businesses and professional truckers.

By far the most important component of the ELDT is mandated training for drivers seeking a CDL. While a written exam is part of ELDT regulations, the law also compels those interested in obtaining a CDL to undergo behind the wheel training that encompasses everything from how to operate a vehicle to roadside inspections and procedures. The ELDT was originally passed in 2017 and provided a three-year period for businesses to prepare for the new regulations. In 2020, lawmakers decided to delay enforcement of the bill for an additional two years.

Thus far, trucker organizations have yet to formally comment on the TRUCKS Act. However, David Heller, a senior vice president at Truckload Carriers Association, says that his organization supports competency-based training for those interested in possessing a CDL. Heller further adds that in his view, current regulations are adequate for businesses of all sizes to reasonably obtain CDL certification for their drivers.