Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations relating to commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act DRIVE-SAFE Act 2. Apprenticeship program for commercial drivers under the age of 21 (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Apprentice The term apprentice (2) Commercial driver's license The term commercial driver's license (3) Commercial motor vehicle The term commercial motor vehicle commercial motor vehicle (4) Driving time The term driving time (5) Employee The term employee (6) Employer The term employer (7) Experienced driver The term experienced driver (A) is not less than 21 years of age; (B) has held a commercial driver’s license for the 2-year period ending on the date on which the individual serves as an experienced driver under subsection (c)(3)(B); (C) has had no preventable accidents reportable to the Department of Transportation or pointed moving violations during the 1-year period ending on the date on which the individual serves as an experienced driver under subsection (c)(3)(B); and (D) has a minimum of 2 years of experience driving a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. (8) On-duty time The term on-duty time (9) Pointed moving violation The term pointed moving violation (10) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Apprentice An apprentice may— (1) drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce while taking part in the 120-hour probationary period under subsection (c)(1) or the 280-hour probationary period under subsection (c)(2), pursuant to an apprenticeship program established by an employer in accordance with this section; and (2) drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce after the apprentice completes an apprenticeship program described in paragraph (1). (c) Apprenticeship program An apprenticeship program referred to in subsection (b) is a program that consists of the following requirements: (1) 120-hour probationary period (A) In general The apprentice shall complete 120 hours of on-duty time, of which not less than 80 hours are driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. (B) Performance benchmarks In order to complete the 120-hour probationary period under subparagraph (A), an employer shall determine that the apprentice is competent in each of the following areas: (i) Interstate, city traffic, rural 2-lane, and evening driving. (ii) Safety awareness. (iii) Speed and space management. (iv) Lane control. (v) Mirror scanning. (vi) Right and left turns. (vii) Logging and complying with rules relating to hours of service. (2) 280-hour probationary period (A) In general After completing the 120-hour probationary period under paragraph (1), the apprentice shall complete 280 hours of on-duty time, of which not less than 160 hours are driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. (B) Performance benchmarks In order to complete the 280-hour probationary period under subparagraph (A), an employer shall determine that the apprentice is competent in each of the following areas: (i) Backing and maneuvering in close quarters. (ii) Pre-trip inspections. (iii) Fueling procedures. (iv) Weighing loads, weight distribution, and sliding tandems. (v) Coupling and uncoupling procedures. (vi) Trip planning, truck routes, map reading, navigation, and permits. (3) Restrictions for 120-hour and 280-hour probationary periods During the 120-hour probationary period under paragraph (1) and the 280-hour probationary period under paragraph (2)— (A) the apprentice may only drive a commercial motor vehicle that has— (i) automatic manual or automatic transmissions; (ii) active braking collision mitigation systems; (iii) forward-facing video event capture; and (iv) governed speeds of 65 miles per hour at the pedal and 65 miles per hour under adaptive cruise control; and (B) the apprentice shall be accompanied in the cab of the commercial motor vehicle by an experienced driver. (4) Records retention The employer shall maintain records, in a manner required by the Secretary, relating to the satisfaction of the requirements of paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) by the apprentice. (5) Reportable incidents If the apprentice is involved in a preventable accident reportable to the Department of Transportation or a pointed moving violation while driving a commercial motor vehicle as part of an apprenticeship program described in this subsection, the apprentice shall undergo remediation and additional training until the apprentice can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the employer, competence in each of the performance benchmarks described in paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B). (6) Completion of program The apprentice shall be considered to have completed the apprenticeship program on the date on which the apprentice completes the 280-hour probationary period under paragraph (2). (7) Minimum requirements (A) In general Nothing in this Act prevents an employer from imposing additional requirements on an apprentice taking part in an apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section. (B) Technologies Nothing in this Act prevents an employer from requiring or installing additional technologies in a commercial motor vehicle in addition to the technologies described in paragraph (3)(A). (d) Regulations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this Act. (e) No effect on license requirement Nothing in this Act exempts an apprentice from any requirement to hold a commercial driver’s license in order to operate a commercial motor vehicle. (f) Employer responsibility An employer shall not knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver under the age of 21 to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce unless the driver is participating in or has completed an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements of subsection (c).

Summary: Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act or the DRIVE-SAFE Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation to promulgate regulations to implement an apprenticeship program for licensed commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21. Under the program, an apprentice must complete two probationary periods that total 400 hours of on-duty time, of which at least 240 hours must be driving time in a commercial motor vehicle. Additionally, the apprentice must be accompanied in the cab of the commercial motor vehicle by an experienced driver. Further, the bill requires all commercial motor vehicles used in the program for training to be equipped with safety technology such as active braking collision mitigation systems and video event capturing systems. An employer shall not knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver under the age of 21 to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the driver is participating in, or has completed, an apprenticeship program that meets the requirements set forth in this bill.