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: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Target Audience
Population: People seeking or holding commercial driver's licenses
Estimated Size: 13000000
- The bill is related to commercial driver's licenses issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- This impacts individuals who are taking exams for commercial driver's licenses.
- Commercial drivers include truck drivers, bus drivers, and other professional drivers who operate commercial vehicles.
- The bill is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a focus on mitigating pandemic-related disruptions in obtaining commercial driver's licenses.
Reasoning
- The LICENSE Act of 2022 aims to ease the process for obtaining commercial driver's licenses during the ongoing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting those preparing to take CDL exams or renew their licenses.
- Truck drivers, bus drivers, delivery drivers, and other commercial drivers are directly impacted, benefiting from the waivers of training and testing requirements by potentially reducing the time and cost burden associated with obtaining or renewing a CDL.
- While these changes can improve access and reduce unemployment due to quicker CDLs, it's crucial to maintain safety standards. Thus, the effect on self-reported wellbeing will vary, likely showing improvement among those directly benefiting from faster, cheaper access to CDLs but neutral among those concerned with safety standards.
- Considering the budget and estimated target population size in the U.S., the policy will directly impact a subset of the 13 million estimated who hold or seek CDLs. Most will experience increased convenience and financial savings, which could lead to increased job satisfaction and wellbeing.
- The budget constraints suggest that not all disruptions experienced during the pandemic can be addressed, focusing on areas with high demand and lower resources to ensure impactful benefits within the financial limits.
- Given the widespread distribution of commercial drivers across urban, suburban, and rural areas, variations in wellbeing will reflect local economic conditions and the significance of commercial driving in regional employment.
Simulated Interviews
truck driver (Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been waiting to get my CDL test sorted for months due to the backlog from COVID-19.
- If the process is smoothed out, it would mean I can get back to steady work faster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
bus driver (California)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Renewing my CDL has been a hassle with all the added paperwork delays.
- This policy might ease that burden, letting me work without a hiccup.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
food delivery driver (New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act might finally make getting my CDL feasible without spending excess time and money.
- The job benefits are crucial for my financial stability and career advancement.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
trainee commercial driver (Florida)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having easier access to CDL will help me start my career without unnecessary delays.
- I'm ready to work, but bureaucracy during COVID has been a barrier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
retired trucker (Michigan)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly affected but it'll be good for the industry if younger drivers have less red tape.
- Easier access could boost employment and motivation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
long-haul truck driver (Illinois)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlining the process would relieve a lot of stress for me and my family.
- The pandemic made everything more difficult; this policy is a relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
public transportation driver (Ohio)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that helps me upgrade my skills and job status faster is a win.
- Less bureaucracy means more time behind the wheel, better income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
self-employed delivery service (Oregon)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My business's success is tied to my ability to operate legally and efficiently.
- This policy could lower both time and financial burdens, helping my business thrive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
trucker (Georgia)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Getting back on the road means stable income; I've been stuck waiting due to exam delays.
- This seems like it might finally get me moving again.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
CDL instructor (Nevada)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While easing access is good, I worry about compromising on safety.
- The policy could improve entry but should maintain high standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $69000000)
Year 10: $66000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $81000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Key Considerations
- The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the transportation and logistics sector and the necessity to facilitate entry into the driver workforce.
- The administrative capacity of the FMCSA to handle increased waiver petitions and manage new procedural requirements.
- The potential for this policy to indirectly affect road safety and regulation compliance if training and testing standards are significantly altered.