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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 14, 2023 10:45 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Carol Hill-Evans |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reinstatement of CDL after Lifetime Ban- Giving Commercial Truck Drivers a Second Chance |
| Trucks move roughly 72.2 percent of the nation’s freight by weight and provide almost one-third of states’ fuel tax revenue. Despite the significant impact that trucking has on our economy, the industry is projected to experience a shortage of 160,000 drivers by 2030. Pennsylvania has an untapped source of commercial truck drivers—rehabilitated individuals who are subject to a lifetime commercial driver’s license disqualification. Unfortunately, a gap in our state’s laws keeps commercial truck driving opportunities out of reach for these individuals. Under both federal and state statutes, an individual is subject to a lifetime commercial driver’s license (CDL) disqualification after receiving two or more convictions of driving under the influence and/or drug test refusals. While it makes sense to deny individuals who repeatedly make the choice to endanger other drivers, rehabilitated individuals should not be denied an employment opportunity because of past mistakes. I am introducing legislation to fix this and give rehabilitated former CDL holders another chance. My bill will establish a commercial driver’s license reinstatement program for individuals who have served at least ten years of a lifetime CDL ban. A reduction would not be available to a CDL holder who is convicted of certain offenses such as felony distribution of a controlled substance or human trafficking, and my bill would revoke CDL reinstatement for an individual who commits another offense that makes them subject to a lifetime ban. In a nation that depends on freight for the delivery of goods, we cannot afford to shut out potential drivers. Please consider contributing to a stronger economy in our state by signing on to this proposal. |
Introduced as HB1092