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Committee approves lowering CDL age to 18 with training conditions after union and community testimony
Summary
The committee passed SB 2896 to lower the minimum age for commercial driving from 19 to 18, but adopted amendments recommending training requirements and apprenticeship ties for 18- to 20-year-olds following testimony from unions and community members.
The Senate Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 2896, a measure that lowers the minimum age for commercial driving within the state from 19 to 18 and requires the Department of Transportation to amend rules accordingly, after accepting amendments that emphasize training and apprenticeship pathways for younger drivers.
Community testimony included Jermaine Myers of the Wai'anae Coast, who said he rose in strong support: "This bill recognizes that reality," describing commercial driving as a multigenerational skill and a career path that keeps families and communities together. Pani Metzova of Operating Engineers Local 3 urged the committee to require training programs tied to apprenticeships or certified providers and described a formal training sequence: two intensive initial weeks followed by on-the-job training and longer apprenticeship timelines for broader heavy-equipment competence.
The chair noted the union's proposed amendments and recommended incorporating requirements that 18-year-old drivers undergo structured training before operating on public roadways. The committee voted to pass SB 2896 with the recommended amendments and will forward the amended bill for further processing.
