The executive order does not create a new truck driver classification or bypass existing licensing rules

In September 2024, the Biden administration issued an executive order directing the Department of Transportation to streamline rules around truck driver training and licensing. The order does not grant anyone a commercial driver's license, waive state requirements, or create a federal fast-track to driving trucks. Instead, it instructs federal agencies to examine which regulations could be loosened without compromising safety, and to coordinate with states on how training programs work.

The practical effect depends on what states choose to do in response. Some states may adjust their own rules around apprenticeships or training timelines. Others may not change anything. There is no automatic national change that takes effect on a specific date.

Key Takeaways

  • The executive order directs federal agencies to review truck driver regulations, but does not itself change licensing, training length, or hiring rules.
  • States issue commercial driver's licenses and set their own training requirements, so any real change happens at the state level, not federally.
  • The order focuses on apprenticeships and training programs, not on lowering safety standards or removing the need for a CDL.
  • Trucking companies cannot hire someone without a valid commercial driver's license regardless of the executive order.

What the executive order actually directs agencies to do

The order asks the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, and other federal agencies to identify regulations that slow down truck driver training without improving safety. It also directs them to work with states and industry groups to understand how apprenticeships and training programs currently operate.

The goal stated in the order is to address a shortage of truck drivers by making the path to employment faster and clearer. However, "identifying regulations to review" is not the same as removing them. Agencies must study the issue, propose changes, and go through a public comment period before anything actually changes at the federal level.

Even after federal agencies propose changes, states must decide whether to adopt them. States control their own licensing systems, testing standards, and training hour requirements. A state could ignore a federal recommendation entirely.

Which rules might change, and which will not

The order focuses on training and apprenticeship pathways, not on the commercial driver's license itself. A person will still need to pass a written test and a driving test administered by their state to get a CDL. That requirement does not change.

Possible areas where rules might eventually shift include the number of hours required in a training program before someone can test, whether certain training can happen in a simulator instead of on the road, and how apprenticeships are structured and credited. Some states already allow variations in these areas; others do not.

Rules that are unlikely to change include the age requirement (you must be at least 18 to drive a commercial truck in most states, 21 for interstate hauling), the need to pass a medical examination, background check requirements, and the written and driving tests themselves.

How this differs from previous driver shortage responses

The trucking industry has faced driver shortages for years. Previous responses have included raising pay, offering signing bonuses, and some states lowering their training hour requirements on their own. This executive order is a federal attempt to coordinate and potentially accelerate those kinds of changes.

It is not a sudden policy reversal or an emergency measure. It is a directive to study the problem and propose solutions. The timeline for actual changes is measured in months or years, not weeks.

What this means for someone wanting to become a truck driver

If you are considering truck driving as a career, the executive order does not change what you need to do right now. You still need to find a training program approved by your state, complete the required hours, pass the written and driving tests, and obtain a commercial driver's license from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

Some training programs are run by trucking companies themselves; others are independent schools. Some states allow certain training to count toward your hours if you complete it through an apprenticeship. The rules vary by state, and the executive order does not change that variation when ready.

Over time, if your state adopts changes recommended by federal agencies, the training pathway might become shorter or more flexible. But that is a future possibility, not something that takes effect now.

The difference between federal directives and actual rule changes

An executive order is a directive to the executive branch — in this case, telling agencies to study a problem and propose solutions. It is not a law, and it does not automatically change regulations. After agencies study the issue and propose changes, those proposals must go through a formal rulemaking process that includes public comment periods and review.

Even after federal rules change, states must decide what to do. States have their own authority over licensing and can set requirements that are stricter than federal minimums. A state could choose not to adopt a federal recommendation, or to adopt it partially.

This is why news coverage of the executive order sometimes says "the order directs agencies to review" rather than "the order changes." The distinction matters for understanding what actually happens next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a commercial driver's license faster because of this executive order?

Not when ready. The order directs agencies to study whether training requirements could be shortened. Whether your state actually shortens them depends on what your state decides to do. Check with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles or a local training program to learn what the current requirements are in your area.

Does the executive order lower safety standards for truck drivers?

The order specifically directs agencies to review regulations without compromising safety. Whether any changes actually happen, and what they are, depends on what agencies propose and what states adopt. No change has been made to safety testing or medical requirements as a result of this order.

Can trucking companies hire someone without a commercial driver's license now?

No. A commercial driver's license is a legal requirement to operate a commercial truck. The executive order does not change that. Companies can hire people in training or apprenticeships, but those people cannot legally drive a truck for pay until they have a valid CDL.

When will this executive order actually change how I get my CDL?

There is no set timeline. Agencies are studying the issue, but any actual changes to federal regulations would take months. States would then need to decide whether and how to adopt those changes. Real changes at the state level could take a year or longer, or may not happen at all.

Does this mean the trucking industry will hire more people?

The order is intended to help address driver shortages by making training faster and clearer. Whether it actually leads to more hiring depends on whether states adopt the recommended changes and whether those changes actually speed up the training process. The order itself does not may provide any hiring outcome.