HARRISBURG –– Legislation aimed at improving highway safety by strengthening standards for commercial drivers and increasing penalties for unsafe operation of large trucks has passed the Senate, according to Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37), who supported the measures.
The bill package includes measures to require English proficiency for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants and to establish stronger penalties for reckless and unqualified truck drivers operating on Pennsylvania roadways.
“These commonsense reforms will help ensure that individuals operating large commercial vehicles are properly qualified and held to the highest safety standards,” said Robinson. “Given the size and weight of these vehicles, even a single act of negligence can have devastating consequences. This legislation is about protecting lives.”
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. The legislation was developed following concerns raised during a Senate Transportation Committee review of Pennsylvania’s CDL system, including potential loopholes involving nondomiciled licenses and unsafe driving practices.
The bills include:
- Senate Bill 1295 would 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 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.
- Senate Bill 1286 would 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 would enhance the penalty for impaired school bus drivers.
Truck-involved crashes are often more severe, reinforcing the need for stricter oversight and accountability.
“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,” said Robinson. “These bills will restore confidence in the system intended to keep Pennsylvania’s highways safe for drivers and passengers alike.”
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.