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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Whereas, the federal age restriction is arbitrary and outdated, as an eighteen-year-old CDL driver may operate unrestricted in South Carolina, for example, from Rock Hill to Hilton Head.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Whereas, this arbitrary and outdated definition of "interstate freight" further restricts the utility of CDL holders younger than twenty-one years old and precludes these drivers from hauling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 Associations 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.
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