The Alabama Trucking Association recently joined trucking organizations in releasing a one-year progress report on the significant federal and state efforts to remove illegal operators from the roadways.
The results documented in the latest report from the Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) reflect a sustained partnership among the trucking industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), state governments and law enforcement.
Governor Kay Ivey signed the Highway Safety and Fairness Act during the previous legislative session. The new law, which was sponsored by State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City) and State Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), improves safety on Alabama’s highways by ensuring commercial motor vehicle operators meet federal work authorization and communication standards. That legislation now requires commercial driver license (CDL) holders operating in Alabama who hold a foreign CDL to possess valid U.S. work authorization and demonstrate English language proficiency, while also making it a criminal offense to present a false foreign CDL during enforcement encounters.
“Alabama’s trucking industry is built on the hard work of family-owned businesses, independent owner-operators, and professional drivers who play by the rules. Bad actors who exploit loopholes in our regulatory systems are putting everyone at risk, and this is unacceptable,” said Alabama Trucking President and CEO Mark Colson. “This latest report shows marked improvements across the board, and its release demonstrates that our industry leaders are in this fight for the long haul. We will continue our efforts to remove the bad actors and rogue elements of this industry, and we will continue to report our findings and adjust our strategies as needed.”
More than 900 commercial motor vehicle drivers in Alabama have been placed out of service for noncompliance with FMCSA’s English language proficiency standard.
“Alabama has seen a 20 percent reduction in fatal crashes involving commercial motor vehicles compared to the same period last year. This follows six consecutive years of reductions in both fatal crashes and overall crashes involving commercial motor vehicles,” said ALEA secretary Hal Taylor. “Alabama continues to lead the way in commercial motor vehicle safety. We do not issue non-domiciled commercial driver licenses, our Driver License Division maintains the highest standards for commercial driver license school certification, and our Highway Patrol Troopers work every day to protect the public through consistent enforcement of state and federal laws governing commercial motor vehicle operations. We appreciate the continued support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and our industry partners as we work together to enhance safety on Alabama’s roadways.”
The complete Trucking Resurgence Progress Report and original action plan are available at www.truckingresurgence.com.
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