Widespread closures of State Driver Licensing Agencies due to COVID-19 could prevent new truckers from hitting the road, CVTA, others say

摘要

The Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) is leading a coalition to raise awareness of the impending danger they say the nation's supply chains face from the widespread closures of state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs), abruptly halting the process of training, licensing and deploying up to 40,000 new truck drivers. As of April 7, 27 states had closed their driver licensing agencies, and the remaining 23 were operating on a limited basis, CVTA said. But with the trucking industry accounting for moving 71% of all freight across the country, the supply chain depends on a steady stream of new commercial drivers entering the workforce. And, according to Don Lefeve, CVTA president, the closure of these agencies leaves many prospective drivers unable to obtain commercial learner's permits (CLPs) and commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). In efforts to raise legislative awareness, CVTA, along with Fortune 500 corporations, major associations and commercial driving schools, is sending letters to state governors and congressional leaders highlighting the growing problem of SDLA closures and the impact this has on the supply chain as a whole.