Bill Overview
Title: Trucking Workforce Improvement Act
Description: This bill repeals the final rule of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration related to minimum training standards for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators.
Sponsors: Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]
Target Audience
Population: People entering the commercial trucking industry
Estimated Size: 350000
- The bill will primarily impact new entrants into the commercial trucking industry by removing mandatory training requirements.
- Currently, the FMCSA's training standards aim to ensure a basic level of safety and competence among entry-level truck drivers.
- Repealing these standards might lead to an increase in accidents or incidents caused by inadequately trained drivers, impacting general roadway safety.
- This change might make it easier and faster for new drivers to enter the industry, potentially increasing employment rates among prospective truck drivers.
- The trucking industry already has a significant number of vacant driving positions; removing training barriers might help fill these gaps.
- Inadequate training might also affect the performance and job satisfaction of the new drivers, contributing to industry turnover.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically impacts new commercial truck drivers by repealing the mandatory training requirement, which may lead to increased entry into the profession due to lower initial barriers.
- Without the mandatory training, there may be variances in safety on the road given the reduction in initial driver competency assurances previously provided by the training.
- Cost remains a factor; with the budget set, large-scale individualized support models such as extensive training programs cannot be implemented, but instead potential industry redistribution or alternative incentives for safety must be considered.
- The target population is substantial (estimated around 350,000 to 500,000), where ease of access will be beneficial in terms of employment but challenging if safety is undermined.
- Given the distribution and population dynamics, interviews with various stakeholders in and around the trucking industry including those not directly benefiting from the policy will help model potential indirect effects.
- Consideration of potential increased accidents due to lack of training should be simulated against improved employment metrics, adding both quantified and qualitative assessments.
Simulated Interviews
Aspiring Truck Driver (Houston, TX)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think removing training requirements can help me get a job faster.
- I'm worried about not being prepared for certain driving situations though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Training Instructor for Truck Drivers (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Taking away the training is risky. Unprepared drivers can put everyone in danger.
- It might affect my job as fewer people will seek training voluntarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Experienced Truck Driver (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that new drivers won't be as prepared, possibly causing more accidents.
- The job market might become saturated with less qualified drivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Safety Inspector (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried that truck safety may decline without proper training.
- It might increase my workload due to more compliance checks needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Logistics Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Easier entry for drivers could help fill driver shortages.
- We might face more incidents or need stronger internal training programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Recent College Graduate Considering Truck Driving (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- No training requirements mean I can save money and time to start working.
- I'd need to learn on the job, which might be challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Retired Truck Driver (Detroit, MI)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Getting rid of training sounds dangerous.
- Hopeful it can solve the driver shortage but worried about safety.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Owner of a Trucking Firm (Miami, FL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less training required helps speed up hiring processes, possibly reducing costs.
- However, worry about potential liability issues with under-trained drivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Insurance Assessor for Trucking Incidents (Dallas, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Repealing this could lead to increased insurance claims due to accidents.
- Insurance rates might increase, affecting the whole industry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Aspiring Entrepreneur in the Trucking Industry (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Changing the rule might make it easier for me to enter the industry with new drivers.
- But business success depends largely on driver skill and safety.
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 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 5: $245000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $290000000)
Year 10: $280000000 (Low: $230000000, High: $330000000)
Year 100: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Key Considerations
- Driver safety and public road safety might be negatively impacted, leading to societal costs that are hard to measure accurately.
- Insurance cost changes for trucking fleets could influence overall economic costs beyond direct policy impacts.