A Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are a shared responsibility between the Federal and State Governments, which must be properly vetted, issued and maintained for the safety and security of Pennsylvania’s transportation system. Following a fact-finding hearing of the Senate Transportation Committee, we unveiled loopholes involving Criminal Illegal Migrants, prompting an evaluation of our laws, regulations and policies.
 
Criminal Illegal Migrants have been operating commercial vehicles in the United States without professional training and English proficiency, resulting in highway crashes in, at least, Florida and Washington. The Commonwealth was thrust into the national spotlight as well following allegations of a nondomiciled CDL, with a REAL ID credential, being issued to a Criminal Illegal Migrant from Uzbekistan. According to testimony from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), a nondomiciled CDL can be issued to a lawfully present driver who is legally authorized to work or reside temporarily in the United States. The public deserves assurance that our highways will remain safe from unqualified Criminal Illegal Migrants posing as CDL drivers.
 
The General Assembly was mandated by the Federal Government to implement comprehensive changes to our CDL laws under Act 49 of 2015, including issuance of nondomiciled CDLs. Unlike other states, PennDOT is prohibited from issuing a regular driver’s license and a CDL to illegal aliens, and each person must provide documentation to verify their legal status. Additionally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations in 2022 as required under federal law dating back to 2012. The states are required to deliver the ELDT program, which lacks cohesive accreditation and standardization. As a result, there are unqualified CDL training providers, referred to as “CDL Mills”, conducting reckless practices and ultimately endangering the welfare of the traveling public.
 
My multi-pronged legislation will close these loopholes to protect and secure the public from dangerous commercial vehicle operations. First, the Commonwealth must strengthen requirements to enforce and shutdown illegitimate “CDL Mills”. At the same time, we must bind our CDL training schools to a curriculum that will effectively prepare the next generation of CDL drivers. This first piece of legislation will amend the Education Code, ensuring the Pennsylvania Department of Education is fully empowered to execute standards and penalize “CDL Mills”. Second, the Commonwealth must require English proficiency in the licensing of drivers, particularly issuance of a CDL. This means the CDL knowledge test will only be offered in English, consistent with the CDL road test, unless the Federal Government withholds transportation funding. Last, the Commonwealth lacks a penalty structure to punish unsafe CDL drivers following a roadside inspection by law enforcement. My legislation will establish new penalties for out-of-service violations, ensuring unqualified CDL drivers are removed from commercial vehicle operations.
 
The General Assembly must act swiftly to safeguard our constituents from Criminal Illegal Migrants. With this legislation, the Commonwealth will implement stronger standards, accountability and oversight, deterring Criminal Illegal Migrants from operating commercial vehicles. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation to harness control over commercial vehicle safety in this Commonwealth.