WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nearly 9 in 10 Americans support the DRIVE-Safe Act (S.569, H.R. 1374), newly introduced bipartisan legislation to address the nation’s growing shortage of truck drivers. The DRIVE-Safe Act modernizes federal law and updates safety standards to provide younger drivers with the opportunity to enter the trucking industry.
According to a recent Harris Poll commissioned by the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), 86 percent of Americans expressed support for the DRIVE-Safe Act after answering questions to gauge awareness and understanding of the driver shortage and current federal law. The Harris Poll survey was conducted online from March 5-7, 2019, among 2,015 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. [i].
“This legislation paves the way for the new drivers needed to sustain a safe and efficient supply chain for the more than one million restaurants and foodservice outlets in the U.S.,” said Mark Allen, President and CEO of IFDA. “This bill creates opportunity while reinforcing a culture of safety far and above current standards to provide the next generation of drivers with the critical skills they need to operate a truck in the 21st century.”
The survey further shows that nearly 9 in 10 Americans (86 percent) believe that the current commercial truck driver shortage has an impact on U.S. consumers, and a majority believe higher shipping costs for businesses/consumers (71 percent), delayed/slower shipping times (70 percent), and increased costs of consumer goods like groceries and restaurant meals (58 percent) are happening as a result of the shortage.
This broad public approval of the DRIVE-Safe Act matches growing support from industry groups– a coalition of 69 trade organizations recently signed letter to Congress backing the bill. It is cosponsored in both the House and Senate by a bipartisan group of lawmakers: Senators Todd Young, R-Ind.; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Angus King, I-Maine; Jim Inhofe, R-Okla.; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; and Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; and Representatives Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind.; Anthony Brindisi, D-NY; Jim Cooper, D-Tenn.; Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Al Green, D-Texas; Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas; Paul Mitchell, R-Mich.; Greg Pence, R-Ind; Van Taylor, R-Texas; and Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.
According to the American Trucking Associations, the growing driver shortage is reaching crisis levels, as 70 percent of the nation’s freight is carried by commercial trucks. According to a recent estimate, the nation needs an additional 50,000 truck drivers immediately, a shortage that is expected to grow to more than 174,000 by 2026. While 48 states currently allow drivers to obtain a commercial driver’s license at 18, federal law prohibits these adults from driving commerce across state lines until they are 21. The DRIVE-Safe Act would create a two-step program to allow younger drivers to enter the industry safely.
Formally named the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act, DRIVE-Safe enhances safety and training standards for newly qualified drivers 18-21. Under the legislation, once a driver qualifies for a commercial driver’s license, they begin a two-step additional training program with rigorous performance benchmarks. Drivers must complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time in the cab with an experienced driver. Every driver will train on trucks equipped with new safety technology including active braking collision mitigation systems, video event capture, and a speed governor of 65 miles per hour or below.
About the International Foodservice Distributors Association
The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the premier trade organization representing the $280 billion foodservice distribution industry, which ensures a safe and efficient supply chain of food and products for more than one million restaurants and foodservice outlets in the U.S. every day. There are 15,000 foodservice distribution center locations across the U.S. that impact more than one million jobs. For more information visit www.ifdaonline.org.
For more information about the DRIVE Safe Act visit www.drivesafeact.com.
[i] This survey was conducted within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) from March 5-7, 2019, among 2,015 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact IFDA.