Colorado Senator’s Letter About Horrific Trucking Accidents Brings New Challenge to FMCSA

Senator Hickenlooper Writes Letter to FMCSA for Stricter Rules for Unlicensed Truck Drivers

After several deadly crashes caused by unlicensed truck drivers, Senator John Hickenlooper is urging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to take action. He wants them to enforce trucking rules more strictly. These crashes happened in Colorado and across the country, and they involved drivers without a proper Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Safety Concerns and Trucking Accidents

Hickenlooper sent a letter to the FMCSA, pointing out that some trucking companies are not following safety rules. He said that many of these companies are not being inspected often enough, which allows unsafe practices to continue. He believes this lack of checks is leading to more accidents and putting lives in danger.

“Inadequate compliance with safety standards by trucking companies that have repeatedly failed to comply, and have faced insufficient audits, poses significant risks to public safety,” Hickenlooper wrote. He said that without better enforcement and more inspections, more accidents and deaths will happen.

Fatal Trucking Accidents in Colorado

Hickenlooper shared two examples of deadly accidents in Colorado involving unlicensed truck drivers. In June, a driver without a CDL who worked for a trucking company in California caused a crash on U.S. Route 285 in Jefferson County. This crash killed a motorist. Another crash happened in 2022 on I-25 in Weld County, where five people were killed. Both drivers in these accidents were driving trucks without the required licenses.

These accidents have raised questions about whether the FMCSA is doing enough to ensure that truck drivers have valid CDLs. The FMCSA is responsible for enforcing trucking safety rules, but Hickenlooper says the agency may not have the resources to properly do its job.

Problems Facing the FMCSA

The FMCSA is in charge of making sure commercial trucks and their drivers follow safety rules. But the agency may not have enough people or money to keep up with the large number of trucks on the road. Hickenlooper said that these challenges may prevent the FMCSA from inspecting companies and making sure all drivers have valid CDLs.

“As we continue to see rising concerns about the safety of our highways, it is imperative that the FMCSA’s capacity to enforce safety regulations, increase compliance accountability, and conduct thorough audits is strengthened to mitigate these risks,” Hickenlooper said.

Questions for the FMCSA Regarding Trucking Accidents

In his letter, Hickenlooper asked the FMCSA several questions. He wanted to know how many trucking companies have been found violating CDL rules in the last two years and how many companies have failed safety inspections. He also asked how many safety inspectors the FMCSA has and if more inspectors would help the agency do its job better.

Hickenlooper also asked what steps the FMCSA plans to take to improve safety rule enforcement. He suggested that Congress may need to give the agency more money and support to help with this goal. He urged the FMCSA to look at its current system and find ways to improve its ability to inspect trucking companies and stop unlicensed drivers from causing accidents.

Colorado’s Response to CDL Problems

In response to these crashes, Colorado has passed a new law to increase the penalties for drivers without a CDL. This new law aims to discourage trucking companies from hiring unlicensed drivers and improve road safety. While this is a good step, Hickenlooper believes that more action is needed at the federal level to make sure these rules are followed everywhere in the country.

The Need for Federal Action

Hickenlooper’s push for stricter rules comes as concerns about truck safety grow. As more goods are moved by trucks, it’s important to make sure that all truck drivers follow safety rules. Ensuring that all commercial truck drivers have valid licenses is key to keeping roads safe.

By pushing for stronger oversight, Hickenlooper hopes to prevent future crashes and save lives. If the FMCSA gets more resources, it could help the agency enforce the rules more effectively and make U.S. roads safer for everyone.