H.R. 5563

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5563 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5563

To establish an apprenticeship program for commercial drivers under the 
age of 21, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 26, 2025

Mr. Crawford (for himself, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. Westerman, Mr. 
Carbajal, Mr. LaHood, and Ms. Perez) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish an apprenticeship program for commercial drivers under the 
age of 21, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Developing Responsible Individuals 
for a Vibrant Economy Act'' or the ``DRIVE-SAFE Act''.

SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVERS UNDER THE AGE OF 
21.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Apprentice.--The term ``apprentice'' means an employee 
under the age of 21 who holds a commercial driver's license 
required to operate a class of vehicles described in part 383 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) Commercial driver's license.--The term ``commercial 
driver's license'' has the meaning given the term in section 
31301 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Commercial motor vehicle.--The term ``commercial motor 
vehicle'' means a commercial motor vehicle that meets the 
definition under paragraph (1) or (4) of the definition of the 
term ``commercial motor vehicle'' in section 390.5 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act).
(4) Driving time.--The term ``driving time'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 
this Act).
(5) Employee.--The term ``employee'' has the meaning given 
such term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(6) Employer.--The term ``employer'' has the meaning given 
such term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(7) Experienced driver.--The term ``experienced driver'' 
means an individual who--
(A) is not less than 26 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'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 395.2 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 
this Act).
(9) Pointed moving violation.--The term ``pointed moving 
violation'' means a violation that results in points being 
added to the license of a driver, or a similar comparable 
violation, as determined by the Secretary.
(10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Transportation.
(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; and
(iii) forward-facing video event capture; 
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).
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