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OOIDA calls on FMCSA to ‘listen to real truckers’

Truck driver safety, inadequate truck driver parking and training, and overall “poor working conditions” for truckers were some of the top concerns broached by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association during the FMCSA’s Trucking Safety Summit.

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DMV closures slow CDL process, threaten recovery

“We are licensing a fraction of the commercial drivers as would have been produced under ‘normal’ circumstances,” said Don Lefeve, president and CEO of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association.

One month ago, 27 State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) were closed, along with most government offices, due to COVID-19 concerns. If you wanted to obtain your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and join the trucking industry, or even a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to get started, you had about a 50/50 shot that your state would allow it.

The odds have improved to 66%, with only 17 states completely closed now, but several roadblocks still remain between prospective drivers and a job in trucking.

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Groups call on Congress to suspend FET

NTEA, ATA and other organizations are urging Congress to suspend the 12% federal excise tax on heavy trucks and trailers through 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NTEA —The Association for the Work Truck Industry has joined the National Auto Dealers Association, American Trucking Associations and more than 100 other state and local organizations urging Congress to suspend the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on heavy trucks and trailers through 2021 as they consider additional legislation to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and assist with U.S. economic recovery.

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