ATA Applauds Sponsors of Veterans’ Access to CDL Bill
Biden-Era Law Removes Barriers to Career in Trucking
Key Takeaways:
- More veterans can receive the necessary training for a career in trucking.
- Law had bipartisan backing in the House and Senate.
- Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
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formally recognized the contributions of four members of Congress who expanded opportunities in the freight workforce for veterans.
Through ATA’s Trucking Cares Foundation, Sens. and and Reps. and were honored during a Capitol Hill reception Sept. 18. The lawmakers were central to the enactment of legislation that ensures veterans’ benefits are approved without delay at new commercial driving schools.
ATA President Chris Spear reflected on the new law’s impact.
“When these brave men and women return home, the last thing they should have to worry about is red tape preventing them from achieving the American dream that they fought to defend,” he said. “The Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023 is a common-sense law that is expanding veterans’ access to [commercial driver license] programs and helping them to build rewarding careers.”
Trucking Cares Foundation Chairman Greg Owen, head coach of Ability Tri-Modal, referred to the law as a “win-win” for veterans and supply chain operations.
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“Thanks to the law that they authored, more of our nation’s heroes are able to receive the training they need to obtain high-paying careers in the trucking industry after they have completed their military service,” he said.
“During their military service, veterans become familiar operating in and around large vehicles and equipment, skills that can ease their transition to driving a commercial truck,” said Trucking Cares Foundation President John Lynch, ATA’s senior vice president of federation relations.
Last year, former President Joe Biden signed into law the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act as a way of enhancing veterans’ access to commercial driver licenses nationwide.
According to background information from the Senate sponsors, the law would ensure “[commercial driver license] schools that offer courses at new branches do not have to wait two years if the primary institutions [have] been approved by the [Department of Veterans Affairs] and state approving agencies to receive GI benefits. By clarifying this two-year moratorium statute, the [law] will allow veterans more accessibility to nearby CDL schools and lead to high-paying careers in the industry.”
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During the bill’s introduction in the previous session of Congress, Pappas explained, “This bipartisan legislation will ease the pathway for veterans to acquire a commercial driving license, helping address the trucking shortage, employ veterans and strengthen our supply chains.”
Edwards added, “In rural areas like western North Carolina, veterans have to drive for hours to get training for a commercial driver license because closer facilities are forced to wait two years to accept GI Bill benefits. The truck driver shortage is worsening, and obtaining a [commercial driver license] can provide veterans with good, high-paying jobs when they finish their service.”
, a charitable arm of ATA, advocates for workforce and leadership development, among other issues, through outreach campaigns.
