The pro-big business bill has bipartisan support.
The pro-big business Bill, if implemented, would bring in more low-paid workers into the already high turnover rate in the trucking industry. The Bill is starting to get momentum in congress thanks to a big push from Big Corporations and their Republican backers.
According to reports, The average age of an American truck driver is currently around 49 years old. As the average trucking population begins to age, it’s no wonder the trucking industry is looking for young drivers to enter the workforce. But they should not be used as cheap labor, and Those drivers should be getting paid equal pay and not a penny less. Anything less would dilute the already low-paid wages for other drivers, thus exacerbating the high turnover rates in the industry.
The big freight companies have always complained to the media about having a so-called driver shortage. As it turns out, that was a fabricated talking point that was never thoroughly investigated until barrons.com did a small news report about it. Basically exposing big corporations trying to sell the DRIVER SHORTAGE narrative to mainstream media and succeeding. The media never really ran the numbers or did any fact-checking. Basically, the media was taking whatever big business said at face value.
The Mega Truck Carriers are constantly looking for new drivers to replenish those that leave the industry yearly. And so, the biggest problem is not a shortage. It’s the low pay that makes it impossible for many folks to survive in the industry.
Regardless, below you’ll find information on the DRIVE Safe Act.
S.659 – DRIVE Safe Act was Introduced in Senate (03/10/2021)
| 117th CONGRESS 1st Session |
S. 659
To require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21, and for other purposes.
S.659 – DRIVE Safe Act
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 10, 2021
Mr. Young (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Moran, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. King, Mr. Cotton, and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act” or the “DRIVE Safe Act”.
SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS UNDER THE AGE OF 21.
(a) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) APPRENTICE.—The term “apprentice” means an employee under the age of 21 who holds a commercial driver’s license required to operate a class of vehicles described in part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(2) COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE.—The term “commercial driver’s license” has the meaning given the term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term “commercial motor vehicle” means a commercial motor vehicle that meets the definition under paragraph (1) or (4) of the definition of the term “commercial motor vehicle” contained in section 390.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(4) DRIVING TIME.—The term “driving time” has the meaning given the term in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(5) EMPLOYEE.—The term “employee” has the meaning given the term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(6) EMPLOYER.—The term “employer” has the meaning given the term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(7) EXPERIENCED DRIVER.—The term “experienced driver” means an individual who—
(A) is not younger than 21 years of age;
(B) has a minimum of 2 years of experience driving a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce; and
(C) as of the date on which the individual serves as an experienced driver for purposes of subsection (c)(3)(B)—
(i) has held a commercial driver’s license for each of the 2 preceding calendar years; and
(ii) for the preceding calendar year, has had no—
(I) preventable accidents reportable to the Department of Transportation; or
(II) pointed moving violations.
(8) ON-DUTY TIME.—The term “on-duty time” has the meaning given the term in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
(9) POINTED MOVING VIOLATION.—The term “pointed moving violation” means a violation that results in points being added to the license of a driver, or a similar comparable violation, as determined by the Secretary.
(10) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation.
(b) Apprentices.—An apprentice may—
(1) drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce while participating in the 120-hour probationary period under subsection (c)(1) or the 280-hour probationary period under subsection (c)(2), pursuant to an apprenticeship program established by an employer in accordance with this section; and
(2) drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce after the apprentice completes an apprenticeship program described in subsection (c).
(c) Apprenticeship Program.—An apprenticeship program referred to in subsection (b) is a program that consists of the following requirements:
(1) 120-HOUR PROBATIONARY PERIOD.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—An apprentice shall complete 120 hours of on-duty time, of which not fewer than 80 hours shall be driving time in a commercial motor vehicle.
(B) PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS.—To complete the 120-hour probationary period under subparagraph (A), the employer of an apprentice shall determine that the apprentice is competent in each of the following areas:
(i) Interstate, city traffic, rural 2-lane, and evening driving.
(ii) Safety awareness.
(iii) Speed and space management.
(iv) Lane control.
(v) Mirror scanning.
(vi) Right and left turns.
(vii) Logging and complying with rules relating to hours of service.
(2) 280-HOUR PROBATIONARY PERIOD.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—After completing the 120-hour probationary period under paragraph (1), an apprentice shall complete 280 hours of on-duty time, of which not fewer than 160 hours shall be driving time in a commercial motor vehicle.
(B) PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS.—To complete the 280-hour probationary period under subparagraph (A), the employer of an apprentice shall determine that the apprentice is competent in each of the following areas:
(i) Backing and maneuvering in close quarters.
(ii) Pretrip inspections.
(iii) Fueling procedures.
(iv) Weighing loads, weight distribution, and sliding tandems.
(v) Coupling and uncoupling procedures.
(vi) Trip planning, truck routes, map reading, navigation, and permits.
(3) RESTRICTIONS.—During each probationary period under paragraphs (1) and (2)—
(A) an apprentice may only drive a commercial motor vehicle that has—
(i) an automatic manual or automatic transmission;
(ii) an active braking collision mitigation system;
(iii) forward-facing video event capture; and
(iv) a governed speed of 65 miles per hour—
(I) at the pedal; and
(II) under adaptive cruise control; and
(B) an apprentice shall be accompanied in the cab of the commercial motor vehicle by an experienced driver.
(4) RECORDS RETENTION.—An employer shall maintain records, in a manner required by the Secretary, relating to the satisfaction of the performance benchmarks described in paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) by each apprentice of the employer.
(5) REPORTABLE INCIDENTS.—If an apprentice is involved in a preventable accident reportable to the Department of Transportation or a pointed moving violation while driving a commercial motor vehicle as part of an apprenticeship program described in this subsection, the apprentice shall undergo remediation and additional training until the apprentice can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the employer, competence in each of the performance benchmarks described in paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B).
(6) COMPLETION OF PROGRAM.—An apprentice shall be considered to have completed an apprenticeship program on the date on which the apprentice completes the 280-hour probationary period under paragraph (2).
(7) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section prevents an employer from imposing any additional requirement on an apprentice participating in an apprenticeship program under this section.
(B) TECHNOLOGIES.—Nothing in this section prevents an employer from requiring or installing a technology in a commercial motor vehicle in addition to the technologies described in paragraph (3)(A).
(d) Regulations.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.
(e) No Effect On License Requirement.—Nothing in this section exempts an apprentice from any requirement to hold a commercial driver’s license in order to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
(f) Employer Responsibility.—An employer shall not knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver under the age of 21 to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, unless the driver is participating in, or has completed, an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements of subsection (c).
