Legislation to Alleviate Regulatory Burdens for Trucking and Agriculture

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, has partnered with Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) to propose a new bill aimed at eliminating onerous government regulations that are negatively affecting North Dakota’s agricultural sector, school districts, and trucking companies.

In 2012, legislation signed by then-President Obama initiated the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirement. The final rule took effect earlier this year, mandating that all new drivers seeking a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) complete ELDT. This additional requirement comes at a time when the American Trucking Association estimates a national shortage of 80,000 truck drivers. Moreover, ELDT training can be quite expensive, costing between $450 and $8,500 and taking from three to twenty days to finish.

The proposed Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers (TRUCKS) Act would enable states to grant a “Small Business Restricted CDL,” exempting small businesses with nine or fewer CDLs from the ELDT requirements. This ensures that drivers who obtain a CDL without completing the ELDT training cannot transition to larger companies while retaining their “Small Business Restricted CDL.” The bill also aims to relieve small businesses from stringent regulations, allowing them to hire in a timely manner and stay competitive. Additionally, it would exempt employees from agriculture-related industries, school districts, and local governments from the ELDT requirements.

“Amid supply chain challenges and a nationwide shortage of truck drivers, the last thing we need is further bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Biden Administration,” stated Senator Cramer. “The TRUCKS Act will enable states to exempt certain drivers from the ELDT requirements, offering much-needed regulatory relief to small trucking firms and ensuring we have sufficient drivers to maintain interstate commerce.”

Senator Rounds added, “In a time of recession with worker shortages and persistent supply chain issues, American businesses should not face heavy governmental constraints. We need policies that assist our producers and consumers, not impede them. This bill reduces the pressure on small trucking firms, agricultural producers, school districts, and local governments, while empowering states to determine their own regulations.”

Co-sponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), the legislation addresses concerns about new training requirements that create higher costs and deter new drivers from entering the workforce. “This legislation offers vital regulatory relief and flexibility, ensuring that farmers, ranchers, and other small enterprises have access to affordable transportation while prioritizing road safety,” emphasized Senator Hoeven.

Currently, truck operators face challenges from federal regulations crafted by officials without firsthand experience in harvesting or trucking. Senator Marshall remarked, “The ELDT requirements are overly burdensome for small trucking companies, and this bill is a sensible reform aimed at removing barriers for small businesses and farmers who struggle to recruit sufficient drivers.”