PennDOT defends CDL procedures after lawmakers cite fatal crashes; agency points to federal checks
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Summary
Lawmakers pressed PennDOT about commercial driver licensing after recent fatal crashes; the department said it complies with state and federal rules, uses the DHS SAVE system for non-domiciled applicants, and that FMCSA identified a small number of prior errors (about 10 of 11,700 cases) which PennDOT is working to correct where federal constraints allow.
Several lawmakers used the hearing to press PennDOT about commercial driver's licenses following a string of high-profile crashes involving commercial vehicles.
Representative Debanzo asked whether CDL knowledge and skills tests are administered only in English. Kara, a PennDOT official, said knowledge tests are offered in additional languages except for the HAZMAT knowledge test (federal rules require HAZMAT testing in English) and that interpreters are not permitted for skills (road) tests.
Lawmakers also raised audits by federal partners. Secretary Carroll said PennDOT ran non-domiciled applicants through the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE system at issuance and that at the time the two cited drivers were issued CDLs the SAVE check gave a green light. He noted the FMCSA identified a small number of issuance errors in prior audits and said PennDOT contacted affected individuals to correct records where federal rules permit.
"Rep, not a single illegal alien has received a driver's license from Pennsylvania. 0," Secretary Carroll said in response to a lawmaker pressing on licensing of non-documented individuals; he repeated "0" in the chamber.
PennDOT said federal partners currently limit corrective action for certain non-domiciled CDLs, which complicates remedying previously issued entries. On training and oversight, the agency said it takes CDL issuance seriously and that both federal (FMCSA) and DHS processes are used to verify eligibility.
Why it matters: CDL issuance, testing language access, and third-party training program quality are central to highway safety oversight and were raised after multiple high-profile crashes.
What comes next: PennDOT said it will continue to comply with federal and state law, coordinate with federal partners, and pursue any remediation available under federal constraints; lawmakers signaled interest in following up on the FMCSA findings and third-party tester oversight.