Highway Fairness Act could codify ELP standards, foreign CDL penalties in Alabama

A bill that could codify ELP Standards and other standards related to foreign commercial drivers licenses into state law known as the Highway Fairness Act passed the Alabama Senate on Tuesday. 

The Highway Fairness Act was passed by members of the Alabama Senate on Tuesday, February 17th and now heads to the House for consideration. 

According to 1819 News, the bill would codify several different federal trucking regulations related to legal CDLs and ELP standards into state law. These regulations include regulations requiring drivers with CDLs from a foreign government to present valid proof of entry documentation to legally operate a CMV in the state of Alabama, and regulations requiring drivers operating CMVs to be proficient in English. 

The bill would also provide penalties for violating these regulations, including impoundment. State Senator Lance Bell says that the goal of the bill is to “get bad actors off the roads driving our 18 wheelers.”

“We all know that 18-wheelers going up and down the road are very dangerous, and we’ve got to make sure that we don’t have the bad actors there and that we have people that are actually certified and able to drive that cargo, get it from point A to point B,” Bell said on Tuesday. “Not only does it help our citizens. It helps our businesses get the products like they’re supposed to, and you’ve got to have some form of English language speaking.”