HARRISBURG –– The Senate Transportation Committee has approved legislation to protect Pennsylvania drivers by reinforcing commercial vehicle safety, according to Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37), who serves as vice chair of the committee. The effort to advance these bills comes on the heels of a tragic fatal crash in Indiana involving a PA-issued nondomiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) held by an illegal immigrant from Kyrgyzstan and a wanted terrorist from Uzbekistan found to hold a PA-issued nondomiciled CDL. These incidents sparked concerns about potential loopholes in the system used to award CDLs in Pennsylvania by PennDOT.
The committee held a fact-finding hearing in December, 2025 that unveiled loopholes in Pennsylvania’s commercial vehicle safety nondomiciled CDL system involving illegal migrants, prompting an evaluation of our laws, regulations, and policies.
“It’s unacceptable for anyone, whether they’re illegal immigrants or American citizens, operating a massive tractor trailer to recklessly violate our highway safety laws and endanger fellow motorists,” said Robinson. “Driving commercial vehicles is a responsibility not to be taken lightly, and obtaining a CDL is a privilege that should only be awarded to those who meet the strongest standards.”
Today, the committee advanced two bills, both sponsored by the committee’s chair, Sen. Judy Ward (R-30), aimed at addressing the findings of this hearing. Both bills were passed with bipartisan support:
- Senate Bill 1295 would amend the Vehicle Code to require English proficiency in all testing applications to operate an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public highways. Under the bill, PennDOT would still be allowed to offer the CDL manual in different languages.
- Senate Bill 1296 would amend the Vehicle Code to establish new penalties for unsafe CDL drivers, ensuring those deemed unqualified are removed from operating a commercial vehicle on Pennsylvania roads. Specifically, the increased penalties would also apply to those violating the English proficiency requirement when operating a heavy commercial vehicle on public highways.
CBS News recently published a 60 Minutes segment exposing trucking schemes operating across the U.S. that violate highway safety standards endangering American motorists. If the companies are cited by oversight agencies for violating federal law, the companies simply switch names to avoid detection and continue flagrantly disregarding the laws intended to keep highway users safe. According to the CBS News report, these fraudulent trucking companies evading federal highway safety standards contributed to more than 5,300 truck-related deaths in 2024. While the federal government is working to address these dangerous tactics, Robinson is pleased that Pennsylvania is taking action, as well.
“Truck-involved accidents are especially dangerous, so we must hold these drivers to a higher standard to protect other motorists, preserve roadway safety in Pennsylvania, and ensure bad actors are prosecuted for violating the law,” Robinson said. “I’ve heard from constituents and experienced firsthand that dangerous truck driving behavior on Pennsylvania roads seems to be more common, creating a sense of unease and even fear among drivers. I’m grateful to chairwoman Ward for advancing these important bills to restore confidence in the system intended to keep Pennsylvania’s highways safe for drivers and passengers alike.”
The committee also advanced two bills with bipartisan support that seek to crack down on careless driving and increase safety on Pennsylvania roadways:
- Senate Bill 1286, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward, would amend the careless driving statute (§ 3714) and increase the penalties associated with unintentional death, including an ungraded misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500 and a license suspension up to two years.
- Senate Bill 1262, sponsored by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), would enhance the penalty for impaired school bus drivers.
All four bills now head to the full Senate for consideration.