Bill Overview
Title: LICENSE Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides statutory authority for waivers of training, testing, and other requirements for commercial driver's licenses that were issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsors: Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-18]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in the commercial driving industry
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill is specific to commercial driver's licenses, which primarily affects individuals seeking to obtain or renew such licenses.
- The target population includes commercial drivers who require licensing to operate heavy vehicles like trucks and buses.
- The bill provides statutory authority for waivers issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting those who benefit from such waivers.
- The waivers could include relaxed requirements for training and testing, potentially impacting the workforce readiness of drivers and safety on the road.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes individuals in the commercial driving industry, such as truck and bus drivers. This also includes those seeking to enter this field.
- The size of this industry is significant, with around 3.5 million truck drivers and many more in associated roles, indicating a large potential impact, though not all may be directly affected by the waiver changes.
- Budgetary constraints mean the policy must be carefully tailored, likely focusing on individuals who are actively seeking to obtain or renew their commercial driver's licenses.
- The availability of waivers could lessen the financial and procedural burdens of obtaining a CDL, potentially improving access to the commercial driving workforce.
- Not everyone involved in the commercial driving sector is directly impacted—it depends on their current license status and how the waivers apply to their circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Long-haul truck driver (Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The LICENSE Act makes it easier for new drivers to enter our industry and keeps the supply chain moving.
- It's a bit worrying that waivers might mean less training for new drivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School bus driver (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for flexibility during the pandemic, but safety always comes first.
- I hope the waivers will not lower driving standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Aspiring truck driver (Ohio)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy waivers are very beneficial—I can start working sooner.
- I'm worried about not being fully prepared without the usual training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
CDL Instructor (Illinois)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Waiving testing and training requirements diminishes the quality of new drivers.
- While it may be financially beneficial, it can lead to long-term safety issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Logistics manager (New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The waivers help us get drivers when there is a shortage, but I hope the skill levels don't drop.
- Ensuring safety and compliance is still crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Rideshare driver looking to transition to trucking (Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am grateful for this policy; it eases my transition into trucking.
- I hope the training once hired will cover any gaps the waivers create.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired truck driver (Georgia)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm retired, but the future of trucking depends on maintaining high standards.
- Waivers are helpful now, but we must ensure they don't become the norm.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Owner of small trucking company (Michigan)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The LICENSE Act helps to fill positions faster without waiting on lengthy processes.
- It's important to have safety measures even with these waivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Independent truck driver (Pennsylvania)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Waivers are good for those starting out, but independent drivers like myself don't always see the direct benefits.
- Interested in how this will affect insurance and liability over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Regulatory compliance officer (New Jersey)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The waivers are necessary given the circumstances but need strict oversight.
- Policy implementation should ensure the waivers do not degrade public safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Potential for reduction in the quality of training and testing due to relaxed licensing requirements.
- Need for increased monitoring of road safety outcomes to evaluate the impact of relaxed waivers.
- Administrative costs associated with implementing and managing continuous waiver processes.
- Potential economic benefits from an expanded, readily available commercial driver workforce.