Charlotte-Mecklenburg school leaders consider changing license requirements for bus drivers
District 1 Representative Melisssa Easley updated leaders at the Huntersville Town Council meeting Tuesday night, saying the board was considering pursuing a different type of license for school bus drivers as part of its legislative agenda.
Currently, under state law, school bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license, or CDL. Easley noted that CDL holders are being lured away by trucking companies, offering wages that cannot compete with school districts.
Charlotte area schools close, announce delays on Thursday due to winter weather
'This is a huge hurdle that we have to do with…having qualified bus drivers,' Easley said Tuesday night. 'They currently need to have a license that's state required, but the bus driver doesn't necessarily need the CDL.'
While the idea is something of note for the school system, there were no additional details on what this plan would ultimately look like.
CDL licenses come with their own proverbial weight, and can keep costs like liability insurance down for districts.
'Your safety has to be the number one priority,' said State Sen. Caleb Theodros of Mecklenburg County, who is on the Senate Transportation Committee. 'So, what that actually looks like, what the requirements would be like, is something that we have to kind of do our due diligence and continue to do work on.'
Theodros noted that districts often pay for CDL holders to get their certifications, but noted the challenges in paying a competitive wage.
He also noted that if this were to be pursued legislation in Raleigh, it likely would not be an immediate fix.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fatal Florida Crash Exposes Dangerous Gaps in Commercial Driver Licensing Standards
'The content in this article is for informative purposes only. No part of this article should be used as substitute for proper training; FreightWaves waives all liability for actions taken from of this article.' A commercial tractor-trailer's illegal U-turn on Florida's Turnpike last week killed three people in a minivan that collided with the trailer at highway speed, putting new focus on critical flaws in commercial driver licensing and training standards that have made America's highways increasingly dangerous. The truck driver, operating for White Hawk Carriers and in the U.S. since 2018 and holding a California CDL, now faces three counts of vehicular homicide and likely deportation after making an illegal turn at an 'official-use-only' median opening. The resulting underride crash, where the minivan went under the side of the trailer, represents a type of accident that federal safety regulators have struggled to address for years. The Florida tragedy reflects deeper systemic failures, including a commercial licensing system that is so barrier-free that virtually anyone can obtain a CDL with minimal practical experience, cultural and language barriers that aren't adequately addressed in training, and examination standards that prioritize processing over competency. America currently has approximately 3.55 million truck drivers. Yet, the industry pushed a narrative of a shortage that created incentives and eliminated barriers to streamline licensing processes at the expense of safety standards. While we have a shortage of drivers for specific modes, such as those requiring more experience, licensing and endorsements, we do not have a driver shortage in general. Dock bumpers are a dime a dozen, which is often reflected in their pay that hasn't increased and kept pace with the rise in cost of living or inflation. California's Assembly Bill 60 has issued more than 1 million driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants since 2015, creating a pathway for commercial licensing without requiring legal presence in the United States. While AB 60 aimed to improve road safety by ensuring all drivers have basic training and insurance, critics argue it creates additional safety concerns when combined with minimal CDL training requirements. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Commercial Driver's License Information System reveals concerning demographic trends. CDL holders skew significantly older than the general workforce, with drivers under 30 severely underrepresented. This aging workforce creates pressure to recruit new drivers quickly, often at the expense of comprehensive training. Cultural and Training Disconnects I am a commercial driving instructor with 25 years of CDL experience, and I regularly receive calls from executives concerned about American licensing standards. Recently, Jochen Vogt, a German CFO in Richmond, Virginia, contacted me, as many C-suite folks do, to train his teenage son because he didn't trust Virginia's driver training. Jochen cited how easy it is to get a driver's license in the U.S. with minimal to no experience or proficiency, especially compared to the cost and extent of German training and requirements. The cultural divide extends beyond individual training to fundamental driving philosophies. Federal data shows that while Asian and Hispanic/Latino workers are underrepresented in the CDL holder group, the industry increasingly draws from countries with vastly different trucking cultures and regulations. When traveling to Wales, you will encounter signs in traditional English and Welsh, with some displaying only Welsh, which can be an issue for anybody who doesn't speak Welsh. This analogy illustrates a serious point and one of cultural understanding that affects vehicle operation safety, and current licensing standards don't adequately address these differences. The Manual Transmission Barrier One of the most significant barriers to CDL acquisition has shifted almost entirely over the past 20 years from manual transmissions. Less than a decade ago, only 10% of heavy-duty trucks had automatic transmissions. Today, nearly 90% come equipped with automatics, with some manufacturers reporting adoption rates above 95%. In the passenger car market, only 3.5% of vehicles sold in 2018 were manual transmissions, dropping from 6.8% in 2012. By 2022, more than 99% of all light-duty vehicles came with automatic transmissions. This shift eliminated a natural screening mechanism that required extensive practice and coordination to master. Freightliner reports that 85% of its semi-trucks now have automated transmissions, up from about 10% five years ago. We've stripped barriers to entry but ignored the consequences. Does any other high-stakes profession demand so little practical training? We should be asking that. State-by-State Licensing Disparities Create Dangerous Gaps The patchwork of state licensing requirements creates alarming inconsistencies in driver preparation. Thirteen states do not require formal driver's education for teenagers to obtain an initial driver's license. Inadequate or non-existent driver training can mean a 16-year-old in these states can obtain a license without practical driving experience, then transition to commercial driving at 18 with minimal additional training. California, where the Florida crash driver obtained his CDL, requires just 15 hours of behind-the-wheel ELDT training for Class A and B commercial licenses. States like Arizona allow teen drivers to forego formal classroom training and instead drive a minimum of 30 hours, with 10 hours at night. Wyoming requires 50 hours of driving with parents or guardians, with 10 hours at night, but no formal instruction. AB 60 and Legal CDLs Without Legal Presence California's AB 60 licenses look identical to regular driver's licenses but are marked 'Federal Limits Apply' in the upper right corner. More than 1 million AB 60 licenses have been issued to undocumented immigrants, with more than 700,000 renewals. A 2017 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that AB 60 had no discernible effect on accident rates and decreased hit-and-run accidents. However, the law creates a pathway for undocumented drivers to obtain commercial licenses while potentially lacking a comprehensive understanding of U.S. traffic laws and driving culture. During 2015, the first year of implementation, well over 600,000 people received California driver's licenses under AB 60. The law includes anti-discrimination protections, but critics argue it creates safety concerns when combined with minimal CDL training requirements. The Demographics of Danger Federal workforce analysis reveals that 83.6% of CDL holders are male, with female drivers significantly underrepresented compared to the general labor force. The CDL workforce skews older, with drivers under 45 underrepresented compared to other occupations. Asian and Hispanic/Latino workers are underrepresented in the CDL holder group. At the same time, the data shows the industry draws increasingly from immigrant populations that may lack familiarity with American driving culture and regulations. The CDL holder group includes more veterans but fewer immigrants and workers with limited English proficiency than the general labor force. However, the growing diversity in driver origins creates training challenges that current ELDT requirements don't adequately address. Training Standards In A Race to the Bottom Current Entry-Level Driver Training requirements, implemented in 2022, represent progress but fall short of comprehensive reform. While some states maintain rigorous behind-the-wheel requirements, others rely heavily on written tests and minimal road time. I've been driving 30 years, have had my CDL for 25 of those, and have been instructing for 15 years in everything from motorcade to teen to CDL to offensive, defensive and EVOC. Eighty percent of what I know about commercial driving, I learned while driving a truck. The instructor's credentials matter. Rose Crist at Virginia DMV did mine. If you got a CDL from Rose, you earned it. We need that 'mom-level' oversight back. Today's examination system often prioritizes processing volume over competency assessment. Examiners may lack the experience or authority to maintain rigorous standards, creating a pipeline of inadequately prepared drivers. The Underride Problem While rear underride guards are federally mandated on trailers, side underride guards remain optional despite repeated National Transportation Safety Board recommendations. The distinction proved fatal in Florida, where the high-speed side impact with the trailer created an unsurvivable collision. Research shows that underride crashes often prove fatal because trailer decks sit at windshield height for passenger vehicles. Federal regulators have yet to act on NTSB recommendations for mandatory side guards, leaving a patchwork of voluntary compliance. Economic Pressures vs. Safety Standards The medium-duty truck premium for automated manual transmissions averages $600 to $3,000 per gearbox, increasing to $1,000 to $5,000 for heavy-duty units. Fully automatic transmissions command premiums of $3,000 to $6,000 for medium-duty and $6,000 to $10,000 for heavy-duty applications. These costs, combined with persistent narratives of a generalized driver shortage, create pressure to streamline licensing processes. Safety experts argue that relaxed standards ultimately increase liability exposure, insurance costs, and regulatory scrutiny that harm long-term industry interests. International Perspective and What America Can Learn European trucking companies adopted automated transmissions earlier than those in the U.S., but they maintained rigorous training standards. Volvo introduced its I-Shift transmission in Europe in 2002, and by the late 2000s, about 75% of European trucks had automated transmissions. European licensing requires extensive practical training and cultural integration that far exceeds American standards. German commercial licensing, for example, requires months of training and substantial financial investment that effectively screens who gets on the highway. The contrast highlights how America has chosen a literal smorgasbord of convenience, politics, agenda, lobbyist narrative, over competency in commercial driver development. Systemic Reform Needed If we want to change what happens on our highways, we need to change who gets on our roads and how they get there, and it needs to be a common-sense, objective standard. If we can organize a single registration for interstate fleets across all states, we can organize a single training and licensing standard for all class licenses. Mandatory standardized training: Require consistent, in-person behind-the-wheel training across all states, with federal minimum standards that exceed current ELDT requirements. Cultural integration programs: Develop specialized training that addresses cultural differences in driving habits for immigrants from countries with different traffic patterns and regulations. Practical examination reform: Restore rigorous, disciplined examination standards with experienced evaluators who maintain high standards rather than processing volume. Underride guard requirements: Mandate side and rear underride guards on all commercial trailers to reduce fatality risk in collisions. Enhanced ELDT standards: Mandate minimum behind-the-wheel training hours and require demonstrated competency rather than subjective module-based completion. The way we prioritize enforcement of carriers and grant them operating authority is broken. White Hawk Carriers, Inc., insurance was due to be canceled this week by Great West, even before the crash took place. White Hawk's out-of-service rates for both driver and vehicle far exceed the national average, mainly due to a history of systemic, unsafe violations. While California State Corporation records indicate White Hawk Carriers, Inc., was started by Navneet Kaur in 2016, Navneet Kaur was also listed as a Director for White Star Trucking out of Modesto, which closed in 2013. The domain was still listed on White Hawks' Facebook page as of August 17, 2025, but was removed as of the time of this story. The agent for White Star was listed as Kuljeenpal Bhullar. Both Bhullar and Kaur have countless ties to other logistics, trucking and transportation entities. Chameleon carriers, where companies close and ownership opens up other businesses at other addresses, or through proxies and can be a way to subvert regulation and oversight by simply closing a poor-performing operation and opening another. This creates enforcement concerns as companies can merely attempt to conceal ownership through legal entities and proxy owners to continue to operate following a history of poor safety performance, which can also lead to insurance cancellation. Harjinder Singh's (the truck driver at the heart of the Florida crash) path from 2018 arrival to 2025 vehicular homicide charges shows us how current systems can place unprepared drivers in positions where split-second decisions determine whether families return home safely. Management may not see drivers for weeks or months. Still, with fleet tech to manage drivers and vehicles, we should be prioritizing the use of fleet telematics and managing that data to improve fleet management and to train and mold better drivers. Until changes in training and licensing standards happen, headlines like Florida's will continue. Unsafe operations plus inadequate training equals disaster. The three lives lost on Florida's Turnpike represent more than tragic statistics; they brought to the surface an urgent need for fundamental reform in how America trains and licenses the drivers of its most dangerous vehicles. The question isn't whether the trucking industry can afford to implement higher training standards. The question is whether America can afford not to. The post Fatal Florida Crash Exposes Dangerous Gaps in Commercial Driver Licensing Standards appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Yahoo
Southwest Charlotte crash injures one, shuts down road
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — One person is hospitalized after a crash causing heavy traffic delays in southwest Charlotte, according to the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The crash happened around 5 a.m. on Monday, August 11, on South Tryon Street at Choate Circle, according to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police. All lanes of South Tryon Street are currently closed. Medic says it took one person to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries from the crash. Authorities have not said what led up to the crash or how many vehicles were involved. The road is expected to reopen around 10:30 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Yahoo
CDL sets new benchmark for EC land with $782 psf ppr bid for Woodlands plot
SINGAPORE - In a determined bid to replenish its executive condominium (EC) project pipeline, City Developments Limited (CDL) topped offers for two EC sites at tenders closing on Aug 5. Both plots drew firm interest from five bidders, with CDL's bids also setting new benchmarks for EC land. A Woodlands Drive 17 parcel for 420 units saw a top bid of $360.9 million or $782 per square foot (psf) per plot ratio (ppr), slightly over the previous high set by Sim Lian's $768 psf ppr bid for a Tampines EC tendered in October 2024. The other EC parcel tendered, a plot in Senja Close in Bukit Panjang that can yield 295 units, was also topped by CDL at $252.9 million or $771 psf ppr. Mr Sherman Kwek, CDL's group chief executive officer, said: 'We are delighted to have emerged as the top bidder for these two well-located and highly sought-after EC sites, in particular for the Woodlands Drive 17 site where our bid is 0.2 per cent over the next highest bidder.' He added: 'With the full sell-out of our recent EC projects, Lumina Grand in Bukit Batok West and Copen Grand in Tengah, these two new sites totalling over 700 units represent a timely replenishment of our development pipeline in Singapore.' Three out of five bids for the Woodlands plot came in above the previous high. CDL's bid for the Woodlands site was a mere $1 psf ppr (0.2 per cent) higher than the second-highest of $360.3 million ($781 psf ppr) placed by a partnership between Sim Lian Land and Sim Lian Development. The next highest offer of $355.2 million, or $770 psf ppr, came from Intrepid Investments and TID Residential. This was followed by a tie-up between Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, with a bid of $352 million, or $763 psf ppr. Coming in last was EL Development, which placed a bid of $328.1 million or $711 psf ppr. Bids were at the higher end of analysts' expectations of $700 to $770 psf ppr. Consultants predicted firm demand for the 25,207 sq m site, and had anticipated four to eight bids, given the pent-up demand for new ECs in the area. Located next to Singapore Sports School, the land parcel has a maximum gross floor area (GFA) of 42,853 sq m and is expected to yield some 420 new units. The last EC parcel awarded in the Woodlands area was in 2015 – to Hao Yuan Investment for $103.8 million or $278 psf ppr. The project, Northwave EC, was launched for sale in 2016 and has a median new sale price of $779 psf. Senja Close bids For the Senja Close site, CDL also beat four other bidders with its offer of $252.9 million or $771 psf ppr. This was followed by TID Residential, with a bid of $238 million or $725 psf ppr. Oriental Pacific Development came third with a bid of $234.9 million or $716 psf ppr. Next was Wee Hur Development at $231.4 million or $705 psf ppr. The lowest bid was by a tie-up between ABR, RP Ventures and LWH, with a bid of $230.9 million or $704 psf ppr. Consultants had expected the Senja Close site to draw two to six bids, with land rates ranging from $600 to $750 psf ppr. Located at the Kranji Expressway, the site has a maximum GFA of 30,478 sq m, of which at least 500 sq m will be for an early childhood development centre that can take in up to 100 children. The last EC parcel awarded in the Bukit Panjang area was in 2010 to Grand Isle, a CDL unit, for $182 million or $271 psf ppr. The project, Blossom Residences, was launched for sale later in 2011, and has a median new sale price of $704 psf, according to caveats lodged. Prices of EC projects have trended upwards over the last few years, held up by limited supply and strong demand. The most recent EC launch, in the west, is Otto Place by developers Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, which clinched the site for $423.4 million or $701 psf ppr in February 2024. The project sold 351, or 58.5 per cent, of its 600 units during its launch in July. The average price of its units sold under the normal payment scheme was $1,700 psf. THE BUSINESS TIMES Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
