One reason that truck driving remains such an enticing career for Americans is because the job only requires 4-8 weeks of training before a driver can get their commercial license and get on the road. But do we currently have the best balance between training and safety? Some high-profile incidents, such as the migrant truck driver that caused a fatal crash in Florida, are causing the industry and government to take a second look at existing safety standards and licensing protocols.

Federal and state agencies are being urged by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to improve their oversight of the issuance and testing of Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). According to the ATA, more action is required to guarantee that only drivers who are properly certified are joining the trucking industry.

The ATA recently issued a statement calling for increased enforcement of current regulations, more uniform standards throughout states, and more oversight of CDL testing locations. According to the group, testing and training standards might differ significantly by region, leaving new drivers with safety and ability gaps.

ATA President Chris Spear wrote, ““ATA and its members — who work tirelessly to ensure safe operations over millions of miles traveled each year — have identified a set of strategies to address these challenges, in line with the industry’s commitment to reducing crashes and fatalities.”

Cutting corners to speed up the license procedure has drawn criticism from several governmental bodies and training institutions. Stronger federal control, consistent examiner qualifications, and improved auditing, according to the ATA, could aid in the eradication of inconsistencies. According to the group, the objective is to ensure that every driver operating a commercial truck is a qualified and safe driver.

Safety advocates and carriers alike have taken notice of the problem, pointing out that an untrained or unqualified driver might endanger everyone on the road. With more trucks transporting cargo than ever before, the American Truck Association’s reform proposal seeks to strike a compromise between the public’s need for safer roads and the industry’s need for additional drivers. How the next generation of truckers obtains and merits their CDL may depend on whether authorities accept the challenge.