LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — A trucking advocacy organization is supporting a proposed law that would establish state regulations mandating commercial truck drivers to adhere to safety measures intended to enhance road safety.
According to the National Transportation Research Board, Arkansas is ranked fourth in the country for fatalities involving large trucks.
The group American Truckers United aims to address this alarming trend through proposed legislation.
House Bill 1569 seeks to enforce standards that ensure drivers are properly vetted and certified. The stipulations include requirements for all drivers to be proficient in English and to obtain a domestic Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from a recognized jurisdiction or via a work visa.
“We have observed a decline in the standards for issuing these licenses,” stated Shannon Everett, a co-sponsor of American Truckers United. “Compliance and enforcement have diminished, so we are working to clarify which licenses are acceptable and which are not.”
Everett mentioned that further investigation revealed several accidents were attributable to truck drivers possessing invalid licenses or lacking licenses entirely. He recounted a tragic incident where Mark Bryant lost his life in May 2024 due to a collision with a truck driven by someone from Honduras who had recently arrived in the U.S. without a valid CDL. The driver’s company had even attempted to present a fraudulent license.
Harvey Beech, another co-sponsor of American Truckers United, pointed out the growing issue of non-domiciled CDLs, claiming they escape the rigorous testing standards that U.S. CDLs require. He criticized the current trend where many states issue non-domiciled CDLs to noncitizens armed with Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), which have proliferated in recent years.
Both Everett and Beech expressed concern over the rising number of accidents in the trucking industry, with Beech noting a troubling 79% increase in injury and fatality crashes over the last decade, despite more stringent drug testing and advancements in technology.
Contrarily, an opposing bill, HB1745, has also been introduced, which would permit individuals with an employment authorization document to drive, granting them reciprocity with others holding a commercial driver’s license or learner’s permit, provided they meet federal minimum standards. However, Everett argued that this measure would not enhance safety on Arkansas roads, emphasizing the catastrophic consequences of mistakes made by truck drivers on other vehicles and their occupants.
The Arkansas Trucking Association has commented against HB1569, stating:
Our association’s advocacy efforts are directed towards solutions that are meaningful, enforceable, and can withstand legal scrutiny without risking significant federal funding for our state’s infrastructure.
Both proposed bills are currently progressing through the Arkansas State Legislature.
