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Veterans

Bipartisan Legislation Passes Senate to Support Veterans in Trucking Industry

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer's Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act has gained unanimous approval in the Senate, marking a significant step forward in supporting veterans who want to pursue careers in the trucking industry. The legislation, co-led by Senator Alex Padilla, aims to remove unnecessary red tape that has been preventing some veterans from utilizing their GI benefits to attend commercial driving programs. With the trucking industry facing a severe driver shortage, this bipartisan effort is seen as a crucial initiative to alleviate the shortage and provide veterans with better career opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The legislation, known as the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act, ensures that veterans' GI benefits can be utilized at new branches of commercial driving program (CDL) schools whose primary institutions have already received regulatory approval.
  • The bill addresses a two-year moratorium statute that prevents CDL schools from receiving GI benefits for secondary facilities in new locations, even if the primary institution has been approved by the VA and State Approving Agencies.
  • The legislation has received endorsements from veteran service organizations, labor groups, and industry leaders, including the American Legion, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Werner Trucking, and American Trucking Association.
  • Senator Fischer led the introduction of the legislation in March, and it now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, where it is being led by U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards (NC-11).
  • The trucking industry faces a severe driver shortage, with estimates suggesting that it could reach 160,000 by 2030, and 8,400 commercial driving programs are approved for use by eligible veterans under the GI bill.
  • CDL schools must still comply with state and VA rules regarding curriculum standards to ensure that programs are not exploiting veterans or offering fraudulent courses.

Statistics:

  • 80,000: The current number of driver shortage in the trucking industry.
  • 160,000: The estimated driver shortage in the trucking industry by 2030.
  • 8,400: The number of commercial driving programs approved for use by eligible veterans under the GI bill.
  • 2 years: The time period for which CDL schools have to wait to receive GI benefits for secondary facilities in new locations, as per the current law.

Sources:

  • "U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate unanimously approved her Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act." (Source: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer)
  • The bill has received endorsements from: American Legion, Moving Veterans Forward, Student Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Great Plains Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Nebraska Military Officers Association of America Labor: International Brotherhood of Teamsters Industry: Werner Trucking, American Trucking Association, Commercial Vehicle Training Association, Nebraska Trucking Association, North Carolina Trucking Association, American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and Home Depot (Source: Background information provided)

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