Summary

Creates a federal apprenticeship pathway that lets commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders under age 21 drive commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce while they complete structured, supervised training. The program requires two probationary training periods (120 hours, then 280 hours) with minimum driving hours, safety and competency benchmarks, vehicle safety equipment, accompaniment by an experienced driver, employer recordkeeping and remediation after reportable incidents, and Department of Transportation regulations to be issued within one year.

• Creates a federal apprenticeship pathway allowing under-21 CDL holders to drive interstate while completing required training.
• Requires two probationary training periods: 120 hours (≥80 driving hours) and 280 hours (≥160 driving hours) with defined competency benchmarks.
• Mandates safety equipment on training vehicles (collision mitigation systems and forward-facing video) and accompaniment by an experienced driver.
• Employers must keep records, remediate after reportable accidents or moving violations, and may only allow interstate driving for enrolled or completed apprentices.
• The Department of Transportation must issue regulations within one year to implement the program.
• Does not change the baseline CDL issuance rules; it authorizes a supervised training path for interstate driving by under-21 drivers.
• No specific funding or appropriations language is specified in the text.