Originally published at: The freight industry has a CDL issue, and it’s deeper than it seems - FreightWaves
Fraudulent CDL holders, improper training programs, and language barriers are only a scratch on the surface of the system problems with the way commercial vehicles are licensed in the US.
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This manufactured driver shortage is going to have consequences that outlive many of us 
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Thank you for your insightful articles. As an immigrant myself, I’ve noticed a significant trend over the last five years: many Indian Punjabis are migrating to the USA illegally via the Mexico border. Once their asylum cases are in court, they often receive work permits even before their asylum decisions are made. Many then enroll in Punjabi schools in Utah or California to obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) on small commercial trucks, although they lack real-world driving experience.
Unfortunately, they frequently team up with co-drivers without the necessary approvals from insurance companies. This leads to driving with limited knowledge of road signs, language, and, in some cases, cultural nuances. They often take breaks on the roadside, which can lead to unsafe practices like alternating logbooks. This group is sometimes referred to as the “chapal gang” due to their use of sandals.
Crossing borders can be very costly, and many carry significant debts, which forces them to send money back home to support their families.
Personally, I believe that anyone migrating to the USA should not be allowed to obtain a CDL as their first license.
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Congress created the problem with training. They required schooling to get a CDL, then gave carriers the ability to school in house. FMCSA then allowed “select carriers” to have their own state certified testers, bypassing DOT to issue CDLs.
FMCSA created the problem with non-domiciled CDLs, easing requirements to allow any visitor with a passport and visa to get one.
The freight recession came in 2021, 2 years after the FMCSA started effectively allowing anyone with a pulse to drive a truck, regardless of qualification or English proficiency.
We don’t fix any of this. FMCSA does, by going back to their purpose of safety, and away from their updated vision of political maneuvering.
Idk all the media/government do is lie. This seems like a good way to harass the existing drivers out of yet more money, and further strangle the industry. Other than a cash grab, I really wonder what the end goal is? What is actually happening? Never ending harassment, how about concentrating on the the geriatric criminals in the Senate? How about stop sending all our money everywhere else, and increase driver pay? Greedy POS I hope they all burn in hell.
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This isnt news. Weve all known about all this years ago. People have been aaying things was getting worse. But the governmant didnt listen and now here we are. None.of these new mandates have made the roads any.safer, or made the job any better.
Theres never been a driver shortage either. The insurance companies are behind all these new rules. Regs are written by people who couldnt tell you hownto even start a truck much less drive em. These schools are just teaching the test. Not how to drive.
their goal is the same as always–total subjugation
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Screw the fmcsa the days coming they’ll have lawsuits hanging out their ssa. I promise is you
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