Peoria Standard

Congressman Darin LaHood from Illinois has introduced the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-Takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation aims to tackle ongoing supply chain issues by increasing the number of qualified truck drivers in the United States.

LaHood was joined in this effort by several U.S. Representatives, including Troy Balderson, Dusty Johnson, Henry Cuellar, Jim Costa, Josh Harder, as well as Senators Cynthia Lummis and Mark Kelly.

"Illinois and America’s truck drivers are essential to securing our supply chains and supporting our economy," stated Rep. LaHood. He emphasized that the LICENSE Act would "streamline the process for future commercial drivers to get their licenses while maintaining high safety standards."

The American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President Dan Horvath supported the act by saying it "leverages the lessons learned during the pandemic" and permanently incorporates two waivers issued since 2020. These changes aim to make it easier for aspiring truckers to obtain their Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs).

Matthew Hart of the Illinois Trucking Association highlighted that these waivers have consistently preserved safety standards while reducing administrative burdens. He noted that making these waivers permanent would help more individuals pursue careers in trucking.

Danny Bradford from the Commercial Vehicle Training Association expressed satisfaction with the reintroduction of this bill, urging Congress for swift passage to boost economic growth.

Ryan Streblow of National Tank Truck Carriers pointed out that "the LICENSE Act streamlines the CDL testing process," addressing workforce shortages in tank trucking.

The LICENSE Act seeks to make permanent several waivers introduced during COVID-19 by allowing state and third-party examiners with valid credentials to administer CDL knowledge tests without additional training courses. The bill also enables states to conduct driving skills tests for out-of-state applicants regardless of their training location.