Hickenlooper Presses for Crackdown on Unlicensed Commercial Truck Drivers

Letter comes after deadly crashes in Colorado and across the country were caused by commercial truck drivers transporting heavy cargo without valid CDLs

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to press for more scrutiny in the commercial trucking industry following avoidable incidents that have resulted in numerous crashes and fatalities where the truck driver lacked a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

“Inadequate compliance with safety standards by trucking companies that have repeatedly failed to comply, and have faced insufficient audits, poses significant risks to public safety. This lax oversight can lead to an increase in roadway fatalities and crashes, endangering the lives of passengers, drivers, and pedestrians alike,” wrote Hickenlooper.

Hickenlooper continued: “As we continue to see rising concerns about the safety of our highways, it is imperative that the FMCSA’s capacity to enforce safety regulations, increase compliance accountability, and conduct thorough audits is strengthened to mitigate these risks.”

FMCSA is the federal agency tasked with issuing and enforcing rigorous commercial vehicle safety standards, oversight of CDLs, and is responsible for ensuring commercial trucks and their drivers adhere to all regulations. However, after several avoidable incidents, there is growing concern that FMCSA does not have the resources or capacity to thoroughly audit trucking companies and consistently enforce safety standards.

These limitations may allow unsafe practices to go unchecked, such as thosecaused by a California-based trucking company, which employed an unlicensed driver leading to a fatal crash in June on U.S. Route 285 through Jefferson County, Colorado. In 2022, five motorists on I-25 in Weld County were killed by a driver without a valid CDL. This year, the State of Colorado passed a new law increasing the penalties for commercial truck drivers who don’t have a valid CDL.

Full text of the letter is available HERE or below: 

Dear Deputy Administrator White,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding ongoing safety challenges within the commercial trucking industry which are creating significant risk to innocent roadway motorists. As you are aware, ensuring the safety of our nation’s roadways is a priority that affects every American, and the role of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is critical in achieving this goal.

The FMCSA is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that commercial trucks and their drivers adhere to rigorous safety standards. This is achieved through a comprehensive system of safety audits, inspections, and oversight of commercial driver licensure. By enforcing these safety standards, the FMCSA plays a vital role in preventing accidents, reducing fatalities, and maintaining public confidence in the safety of commercial transportation on our roadways.

There is, however, growing concern that FMCSA does not have the resources or capacity to thoroughly audit and oversee the vast number of commercial trucking companies moving goods across U.S. supply chains. For example, financial resource constraints, the sheer volume of commercial vehicles, and the complex logistics involved in conducting safety audits can impede the FMCSA’s ability to consistently and comprehensively enforce safety standards. These limitations may allow unsafe practices to go unchecked, as recently occurred when a California-based trucking company employed an unlicensed truck driver who caused a fatal crash in June which tragically took the life of an innocent motorist traveling on U.S. Route 285 through Jefferson County, Colorado. 

Inadequate compliance with safety standards by trucking companies that have repeatedly failed to comply, and have faced insufficient audits, poses significant risks to public safety. This lax oversight can lead to an increase in roadway fatalities and crashes, endangering the lives of passengers, drivers, and pedestrians alike. As we continue to see rising concerns about the safety of our highways, it is imperative that the FMCSA’s capacity to enforce safety regulations, increase compliance accountability, and conduct thorough audits is strengthened to mitigate these risks. To better understand how to mitigate these issues going forward, we ask for your responses to following questions:

1. In the last two fiscal years, how many trucking companies has FMCSA found to have violated CDL licensure requirements for drivers employed?
2. In the last two fiscal years, how many trucking companies has FMCSA found to have failed a safety audit? Of this total, how many trucking companies has FMCSA certified to have implemented corrective actions?
3. How many federal safety auditors does FMCSA currently employ? Of this total, how many safety auditors would FMCSA require to enhance its oversight capacity?
   1. What steps does FMCSA anticipate taking in the near future to strengthen its oversight over CDL licensure and safety standards? Would additional authorities or resources provided by Congress assist with this goal?

I urge the FMCSA to assess its current capabilities and consider potential avenues for bolstering its oversight mechanisms. The safety of our roads depends on the diligent enforcement of safety standards within the commercial trucking industry.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your response to resolve these concerns.

Sincerely,

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