On January 6, 2026, the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee released a Fact-Finding Letter to Federal Partners following the December 9, 2025 public hearing on Commercial Vehicle Safety and Nondomiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs), a major step forward in efforts to strengthen CDL integrity, improve safety outcomes, and close regulatory gaps impacting the trucking industry. 

The letter formally transmits the committee’s findings and recommendations to key federal leaders, including Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and Kristi Noem, Executive Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. 

The letter was also copied to: President Donald J. Trump, Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation, Governor Josh Shapiro, the PA Senate and House Transportation Committees, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, PA Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe, and Acting Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens.

This bipartisan effort reflects a shared commitment by state officials, public safety agencies, and industry leaders — including PMTA and Jeff Mercadante, Chief Safety & Risk Officer at PITT OHIO — to address troubling inconsistencies in the CDL system and improve the hiring pipeline for safe, verified drivers.

The enclosure summarizes key testimony from the hearing.

PennDOT

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and Deputy Secretary Kara Templeton outlined the CDL issuance process and how federal and state requirements intersect. Their testimony emphasized that:

• Non-domiciled CDLs are legally issued only to lawfully present drivers who meet all federal and state requirements, including Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and skills testing.
• PennDOT goes above and beyond federal minimums by using tools like the SAVE system to verify lawful presence — even when not required to retain documents — and paused nondomiciled CDL issuance in response to recent federal direction.
• All CDL applicants, regardless of domicile status, must meet the same core training and testing standards. 

Pennsylvania State Police

Representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police detailed how CDLs are checked during roadside inspections. They highlighted that:

• Law enforcement uses CDL records to verify class, endorsements, restrictions, and disqualifications.
• Drivers without valid CDLs or with violations are cited and placed out-of-service until compliance is confirmed. 

Pennsylvania Department of Education 

Officials from the Department of Education painted a clear picture of the training landscape:

• Only a small fraction of federally listed training providers are licensed by the state’s Board of Private Licensed Schools, creating a fragmented environment where many CDL programs on the federal registry aren’t licensed or closely overseen by the state.
• Although FMCSA can remove providers from the federal registry, Pennsylvania lacks direct authority to compel such actions, underscoring the need for stronger federal standards and interstate cooperation. 

PMTA’s Industry Perspective and PITT OHIO’s Contribution

PMTA President & CEO Rebecca Oyler delivered testimony that framed the issue as one of system integrity, safety, and operational reliability. She explained how:

• Rapid growth in demand for drivers, inconsistent training quality and uneven verification practices have exposed vulnerabilities in the CDL system.
• Pennsylvania’s position as a major freight hub requires a dependable, uniform process to ensure all drivers entering the workforce are thoroughly prepared and qualified.

PMTA Board Member Jeff Mercadante, Chief Safety & Risk Officer at PITT OHIO, delivered compelling remarks that brought these challenges into operational focus. He shared that:

• At PITT OHIO, deeper internal review revealed misreported experience and expired work authorizations for some nondomiciled CDL holders — issues that standard state processes did not catch.
• The company regularly invests significant time and resources in advanced vetting and training to ensure that their drivers meet PITT OHIO's standard for safety. However, because not all companies have the resources to do this, the entire industry relies on having a trustworthy CDL credential.
• PITT OHIO’s commitment to safety and industry standards underscores how quality training and accurate documentation verification are essential to protect both carriers and the traveling public. 

Senate Transportation Committee Chair Senator Judy Ward emphasized the importance of state and federal partnership in her letter:

“A strong Federal partnership with the Commonwealth is essential on this issue. We must act in coordination to ensure the safety, security and integrity of our interconnected transportation systems. 

Recommendations

The Senate Transportation Committee’s recommendations, enclosed with the letter, include:

CDL Training & Providers

• Strengthen federal oversight and require state licensure to appear on the federal Training Provider Registry.
• Empower states to remove unqualified or unlicensed providers and enforce penalties for non-compliance.
• Enhance ELDT with standardized, state-approved curricula and more robust behind-the-wheel training.
• Improve whistleblower protections and reporting mechanisms. 

CDL Testing & Issuance

• Standardize interstate data sharing and verification systems like SAVE.
• Require the CDL knowledge test to be administered in English only.
• Clarify expiration protocols for nondomiciled CDLs aligned with lawful status.
• Strengthen penalties for fraudulent documentation.
• Consider experience-based eligibility criteria before CDL application.

Industry & Workforce Enhancements

• Increase collaboration with smaller carriers that lack extensive verification resources.
• Expand opportunities to attract and retain qualified CDL drivers, including reviewing age-related interstate commerce barriers.
• Invest in infrastructure that supports driver safety, such as truck parking.

What’s Next

PMTA continues working with legislative partners to transform hearing insights into action. PMTA anticipates state legislation in the 2026 session that aligns with the recommendations outlined above.

The fact-finding letter and the hearing itself highlight an important moment for CDL policy in Pennsylvania. PMTA is proud to have helped shape this conversation alongside PennDOT, PSP, PDE, and lawmakers, ensuring safety, consistency, and professionalism remain at the heart of commercial driver licensing.

We will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen the CDL system, support carriers of all sizes, and ensure that Pennsylvania’s roadways are among the safest in the nation.

All written testimony and a video of the Senate hearing are available here.