Trucking industry praises advancement of Dalilah’s Law

National Tank Truck Carriers is one of many trucking organizations celebrating the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s advancement of Dalilah’s Law, which aims to strengthen CDL requirements, and ensure truck drivers are properly trained and meet safety standards.

“NTTC strongly supports Dalilah’s Law and efforts to strengthen the integrity of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) system,” NTTC stated. “We appreciate the leadership of Secretary [Sean] Duffy, FMCSA Administrator [Derek] Barrs, and members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for prioritizing policies that enhance roadway safety.

“Ensuring that commercial drivers are properly trained, tested, and qualified is critical—particularly in the tank truck industry, where drivers are entrusted with transporting hazardous and sensitive bulk  materials. Strengthening accountability and promoting consistent enforcement within the CDL system will help remove unsafe operators from the road while supporting the vast majority of professional drivers who uphold the highest safety standards.

“NTTC looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration as Dalilah’s Law moves through the legislative process.”

The legislation is designed to improve safety by:

• Enforcing English language proficiency requirements and placing noncompliant drivers out of service
• Improving CDL notification systems to promptly alert carriers of invalid licenses
• Strengthening federal oversight of training providers to ensure drivers are properly trained

American Trucking Associations endorsed the bill when it was introduced by Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) on March 16. The Truckload Carriers Association and state trucking associations across the country joined in the support.

“For those hauling freight on America’s highways, safety is not optional—it is the price of admission,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “The trucking industry is grateful to members of the House T&I Committee for reaffirming this principle by passing Dalilah’s Law. This legislation would protect the overwhelming majority of motor carriers and truck drivers who are committed to upholding the highest standards. 

“Rules are only effective when they are consistently enforced. Bad actors who cheat the system and cut corners undermine responsible fleets and create unacceptable hazards for everyone.

“Dalilah’s Law would restore accountability by establishing rigorous, consistent requirements for CDL testing, issuance, and oversight. This is an example of government and industry partnering together to fix a real problem. We applaud President Trump, Secretary Duffy, and Congressman Rouzer for answering the call to strengthen safety, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to get this bill across the finish line.”

OOIDA back Dalilah’s Law, too

ATA highlighted the support of over 50 organizations in a March 17 release. And that list didn’t include the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which also supports the legislation.

“No family should ever have to endure the kind of tragedy that nearly took Dalilah Coleman’s life and inspired Dalilah’s Law,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA president. “OOIDA and truckers across America strongly support Chairman Rouzer’s Dalilah’s Law. This legislation represents a major step forward for highway safety and the integrity of the trucking profession.

“We thank Chairman Rouzer for his leadership and for listening to the concerns of America’s small-business truckers as this legislation was refined. Dalilah’s Law builds on Trump Administration reforms to ensure that anyone operating an 80,000-lb. truck on America’s highways is properly vetted, proficient in English, and holds carriers accountable to the highest professional standards.

“By strengthening federal oversight and certification requirements for CDL training providers, this bill takes direct aim at the ‘CDL mill’ problem that has allowed unqualified drivers onto our roads. Congress must now pass Dalilah’s Law to turn the page on decades of cheap labor policies informed by a false ‘trucker driver shortage’ narrative and make clear that safety, not corporate profit, comes first on America’s highways.”