In a recent letter to leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer didn’t mince words.

“Simply put, far too many individuals are entering the trucking industry without the basic skills necessary to safely operate a commercial vehicle,” Spencer wrote. “Additionally, inconsistent and improper licensing processes among states have permitted hundreds of thousands of unqualified drivers to work on our nation’s roads, which has needlessly resulted in numerous fatal crashes.”

What OOIDA Wants to See Change

OOIDA is calling for stronger, more consistent oversight across the entire licensing and training system. In its letter, the association outlined several key areas where federal lawmakers can make a real difference:

• Tighten Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements so that every new driver receives hands-on, practical instruction, not just classroom hours.
• Ensure the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry is actively used to weed out bad actors and unqualified training schools.
• Increase audits for new entrants to confirm compliance before they’re fully operating.
• Add tougher accountability for third-party CDL testing sites to prevent unqualified drivers from slipping through.

Pushing Back on the “Driver Shortage”

While some in the industry still talk about a nationwide “driver shortage,” OOIDA says that’s not the real issue. In fact, they argue there are too many drivers, not too few, just not enough who are properly trained or supported to stay in the job long term.

“The trucking industry has suffered from an overcapacity of truck drivers, which has helped drive the longest-running freight recession in decades,” the letter stated. “To be clear, there is no ‘driver shortage’ in trucking. Instead, there is tremendous driver turnover as undertrained drivers are put into a new job they are unprepared for.”

OOIDA is also warning Congress not to make things worse by pushing legislation like the DRIVE Safe Act, which would allow younger, less experienced drivers to haul interstate freight. “Rather than making it easier for unsafe drivers to enter our industry, Congress should take aggressive action that will strengthen training, licensing, and qualification protocols for commercial truck drivers,” the association wrote.

Supporting Stricter Oversight

OOIDA is also backing the return of English Language Proficiency violations to the out-of-service criteria. The group supports the new Interim Final Rule on non-domiciled CDLs and is urging Congress to lock it in by passing Rep. David Rouzer’s Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act.

The group says these steps are critical to improving safety and protecting the reputation of skilled, compliant drivers.

Raising the Bar for the Industry

In closing its letter, OOIDA emphasized that while it appreciates steps already taken by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Congress still has more work to do.

The letter concludes, “We believe Congress must do more to prevent bad actors from ever operating on our nation’s highways.”

For America’s professional truckers, this push from OOIDA represents a long-overdue call for higher standards, something many behind the wheel say the industry desperately needs.

Source: Truckers News

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This annual gathering puts industry knowledge and experience at the center of major discussions about trucking policies and priorities. By participating, you help ensure the truckload segment remains active in shaping the legislative and regulatory landscape.

Mark Your Calendar: September 29–30, 2025

These Fall Business Meetings give TCA members and guests the chance to connect directly with key decision-makers and peers. Attendees learn about industry developments, the latest trends, and policy updates affecting daily operations and the sector’s future.

Whether this is your first TCA event or you’ve attended for years, your involvement helps drive actionable change that supports professional drivers, carriers, and everyone in the truckload industry.

What’s on the Agenda at the Fall Business Meetings

On September 29, the focus will turn to committee meetings and guest presentations that dive deep into the hot topics for truckload carriers. You’ll get updates and insights on:

• Creative solutions for driver recruitment and retention

• New ideas to improve truck parking availability

• Legislative news on zero-emission vehicles

• Progress on drug testing regulations

• Initiatives for young drivers and workforce development

• Funding proposals and highway safety measures

• Programs to build a stronger image for trucking and grow TCA membership

Everyone is invited—committee membership is not required to attend meetings or participate in discussions.

Why the Call on Washington Matters

September 30 is all about advocating for our industry on Capitol Hill. TCA’s Call on Washington allows members to meet one-on-one with lawmakers, staff, and officials who influence the rules and regulations governing trucking.

Participants address current topics such as:

• Size and weight guidelines for trucks

• Evolving classification rules for independent contractors

• Federal Excise Tax (FET) updates and highway funding

• Solutions for ongoing truck parking shortages

This is a valuable moment to have your perspective heard at the highest levels, influence legislative processes, and represent the interests of carriers nationwide.

Please note: The Call on Washington portion is open exclusively to TCA members.

Register and Make a Difference

Secure your spot for these meaningful industry events at tcafallcall.com. Registration gives you access to key meetings, learning opportunities, and a direct path to advocating for the future of trucking.

Image Source: TCA
Source: The Trucker

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