Washington, D.C. – According to Senator Cramer’s official website, he and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) are introducing legislation that will remove burdensome government regulations impacting the agricultural industry, school districts, and trucking companies in the state of North Dakota. In 2012, then-President Barack Obama signed legislation establishing a new rule requiring entry-level driver training (ELDT) which went into effect earlier this year.
All new drivers seeking their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) must now take ELDT, which adds another burden at a time when the American Trucking Association estimates a nationwide trucker shortage of 80,000 drivers. These ELDT training classes can cost anywhere between $450 to $8,500 and can take up to 20 days to complete.
“With the current supply chain issues and shortage of truck drivers nationwide at a time of tremendous demand, the last thing the transportation industry needs is more overbearing, bureaucratic red tape placed on them by the Biden Administration,” said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “The TRUCKS Act allows states to exempt certain drivers from new ELDT requirements and provide regulatory relief to small trucking businesses ensuring we have drivers on the road to keep interstate commerce moving.”
According to the website, Senator Hoeven expressed, “At a time when our nation is in a recession and faced with worker shortages and supply chain issues, American businesses should not have to battle the heavy hand of government.” Senator Rounds also said, “we should be working on policies to help our producers and consumers, not hurt them. This legislation eases the burden on small trucking companies, agricultural producers, school districts, and local units of government. It also gives power back to the states so they can decide their own rules of the road.” The bill is also co-sponsored by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Roger Marshall (R-KS). Click here for the bill.
