Trucking Risk Advisor: September 2022

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Boosts Investment in CDL Initatives

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced that President Joe Biden’s administration is awarding $44 million in grants to enhance road safety and streamline the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) under its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This funding will allow states and other entities to reduce wait times, ensure conviction and disqualification data is electronically exchanged, implement regulatory requirements and combat human trafficking within the trucking sector. In short, the hope is that, through these grants, motor carriers will have fewer barriers to get qualified divers on the road to meet increasing supply chain demands.

The Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also includes a 74% increase in CDL Program Implementation (CDLPI) funds. This investment could help address the rising number of roadway fatalities, according to FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson.

“[The] FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and we’re proud to make investments that support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ambitious goal of zero fatalities on our roadways,” Hutcheson said. “The grants we are announcing today are an important tool for reducing large truck crashes and supporting critical safety programs in every state.”

Beyond improving the process for obtaining CDLs, the Biden administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force is looking to tackle the issue of driver retention as part of the Trucking Action Plan. Specific initiatives include completing a driver compensation study and forming a Truck Leasing Task Force.