A BILL<\/strong> This Act may be cited as the \u201cCommercial Carrier Safety and Accountability Enhancement Act of 2025.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Congress finds that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31310<\/em> is amended by adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (f) Immediate English Proficiency Testing<\/strong>. \u2014 The Secretary of Transportation shall require all applicants for a commercial driver\u2019s license (CDL), regardless of immigration status, to demonstrate English language proficiency sufficient to communicate with enforcement officials, understand traffic signs, and comply with federal regulations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31310<\/em> is amended by inserting after subsection (f):<\/p>\n\n\n\n (g) Mental Health Screening.<\/strong> \u2014 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31305<\/em> is amended by adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (c) Technical Proficiency Examinations.<\/strong> \u2014 The Secretary shall establish immediate and comprehensive safety and technical skill proficiency testing as a prerequisite for CDL issuance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31306<\/em> is amended to read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (1) Randomized Quarterly Drug Testing.<\/strong> \u2014 All CDL holders shall be subject to a minimum of four randomized drug tests per twelve-month period, with no less than two months between tests. 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31132<\/em> is amended by inserting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (j) Carrier Liability.<\/strong> \u2014 Each trucking company engaged in interstate commerce shall be subject to both civil and criminal liability for negligent acts or omissions of its employed carriers when such acts occur within the scope of employment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n A new section, 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31311a<\/em>, is added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a7 31311a. Carrier Infraction Point System.<\/strong> A new section, 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31508a<\/em>, is added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a7 31508a. Minimum Wage for Carriers.<\/strong> [Note: Likely unconstitutional \/ in conflict with trade treaties. Retained here in legislative style for completeness.<\/strong>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n (1) No foreign national shall be issued a CDL unless naturalized as a United States citizen and at least five years have elapsed since naturalization. 49 U.S.C. \u00a7 31314<\/em> is amended by adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (e) Withholding of Funds.<\/strong> \u2014 The Secretary shall withhold federal highway and transportation funds from any State that fails to implement the requirements of this Act.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This Act shall take effect one year after the date of enactment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Draft Bill A BILLTo amend Title 49 of the United States Code to enhance safety, accountability, and professional standards among common carriers and holders of Commercial Driver\u2019s Licenses (CDLs), and for other purposes. Section 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the \u201cCommercial Carrier Safety and Accountability Enhancement Act of 2025.\u201d Section 2. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48\/revisions\/50"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionforamerica.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
To amend Title 49 of the United States Code to enhance safety, accountability, and professional standards among common carriers and holders of Commercial Driver\u2019s Licenses (CDLs), and for other purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSection 1. Short Title<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSection 2. Findings and Purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nSection 3. Amendments to Title 49, United States Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
(a) English Proficiency<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n(b) Mental and Psychological Screening<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
(1) Each CDL applicant shall undergo a comprehensive psychological and mental health evaluation at the time of application.
(2) Any diagnosis of disorders likely to manifest in violence, sociopathy, or impaired judgment shall disqualify the applicant.
(3) CDL holders shall undergo periodic psychological re-evaluations not less than twice annually.
(4) A CDL holder disqualified due to subsequent mental health deterioration after five or more consecutive years of active service shall be afforded presumptive eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n(c) Safety and Technical Proficiency<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n(d) Drug and Criminal Background Screening<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
(2) Zero Tolerance.<\/strong> \u2014 A first positive drug test, verified instance of road rage, or violent conduct while operating a commercial vehicle shall result in permanent disqualification from CDL eligibility.
(3) Criminal Background Checks.<\/strong> \u2014 Prior felony convictions for crimes evidencing disregard for human life, including but not limited to vehicular manslaughter, aggravated assault, arson, armed robbery, and major narcotics trafficking, shall disqualify applicants from CDL eligibility.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n(e) Company Accountability<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\n(f) Point System for Infractions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
(a) The Secretary shall establish a uniform, nationwide CDL point system to assess accountability for infractions not rising to immediate CDL disqualification.
(b) Points shall be weighted based on severity, number of persons affected, extent of injuries, amount of property damage, and repetition of similar infractions.
(c) Accumulation of points above thresholds established by regulation shall result in CDL suspension or permanent disqualification.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n(g) Compensation Standards<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
(a) Each State shall establish a minimum compensation standard for carriers domiciled within that State, based on cost-of-living indexes and the State Consumer Price Index (CPI).
(b) Such rates shall be reviewed by the Secretary for adequacy and equity.
(c) Compensation shall proportionally reflect the heightened safety, accountability, and professional requirements imposed under this Act.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n(h) Restrictions on Foreign Nationals and Foreign Companies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
(2) No foreign-owned trucking company may be authorized to operate within the United States.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n(i) Enforcement and Funding Conditions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nSection 4. Effective Date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n