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S. 951
STATUS INFORMATION
Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Grooms
Document Path: l:\s-res\lkg\032cdl .kmm.lkg.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4960
Introduced in the Senate on January 31, 2018
Adopted by the Senate on February 28, 2018
Summary: Congress
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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1/31/2018 Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 7)
1/31/2018 Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation
(Senate Journal-page 7)
2/27/2018 Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation
(Senate Journal-page 11)
2/28/2018 Scrivener's error corrected
2/28/2018 Senate Adopted (Senate Journal-page 45)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
COMMITTEE REPORT
February 27, 2018
S. 951
S. Printed 2/27/18--S. [SEC 2/28/18 10:43 AM]
Read the first time January 31, 2018.
To whom was referred a Senate Resolution (S. 951) memorializing Congress to authorize a pilot program between the states of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina granting commercial driver's license holders between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
LAWRENCE K. GROOMS for Committee.
MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE A PILOT PROGRAM BETWEEN THE STATES OF GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND NORTH CAROLINA GRANTING COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE HOLDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHTEEN AND TWENTY-ONE THE RIGHT TO OPERATE IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE AND TO HAUL INTERSTATE COMMODITIES WITHIN AND BETWEEN THESE STATES.
Whereas, federal law and regulations require a Commercial Driver's License holder to be twenty-one years old to operate a vehicle geographically in interstate commerce; and
Whereas, state law allows a CDL driver to be eighteen years old, to drive anywhere in the State of South Carolina, and to use federal and interstate highways; and
Whereas, the federal age restriction is arbitrary and outdated, as an eighteen-year-old CDL driver may operate unrestricted in South Carolina, for example, from Rock Hill to Hilton Head. However, the same driver may not operate the same vehicle from Rock Hill, South Carolina, to Charlotte, North Carolina; and
Whereas, federal law, in 49 CFR 390.5., restricts CDL drivers younger than twenty-one years old from transporting any freight that is defined as "interstate" in nature, which includes "trade, traffic, or transportation in the U.S.: Between a place in a state and a place outside of such state (including a place outside the US); Between two places in a state through another state or a place outside of the U.S.; and, Between two places in a state as part of trade, traffic, or transportation originating or terminating outside the State or the U.S."; and
Whereas, this arbitrary and outdated definition of "interstate freight" further restricts the utility of CDL holders younger than twenty-one years old and precludes these drivers from hauling intermodal containers and other such common and necessary movements even within the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, certain waivers and grandfathered exceptions exist across the country with respect to intrastate restrictions and related regulations; and
Whereas, the American Trucking Association reports that the nation currently suffers a shortage of 50,000 CDL drivers, a scarcity that is projected to reach 175,000 by the year 2024; and
Whereas, a 2016 South Carolina Legislative Study Committee confirmed the shortage's pending nature and impact on the State, finding that less than half of one percent of South Carolina CDL holders are between eighteen and twenty-one years old but that 45% are over fifty-two years old; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate finds these restrictions generally arbitrary and counterproductive to economic development and job creation. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate memorialize Congress to authorize a pilot program between the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, whereby under certain specific conditions, drivers between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one may operate in interstate commerce and haul "interstate freight".
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
This web page was last updated on March 1, 2018 at 8:53 AM