Take_VVB a_AT0 look_NN1 around_PRP your_DPS home_NN1 or_CJC place_NN1 of_PRF work_NN1 and_CJC consider_VVB this_DT0 :_PUN Virtually_AV0 every_AT0 item_NN1 you_PNP see_VVB has_VHZ traveled_VVN on_PRP the_AT0 back_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 truck_NN1 at_PRP one_CRD point_NN1 ._SENT Truckers_NN2 are_VBB the_AT0 lifeblood_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS economy_NN1 and_CJC are_VBB absolutely_AV0 essential_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 quality_NN1 of_PRF life_NN1 we_PNP all_DT0 enjoy_VVB each_DT0 and_CJC every_AT0 day_NN1 ._SENT This_DT0 fact_NN1 was_VBD more_AV0 apparent_AJ0 than_CJS ever_AV0 throughout_PRP the_AT0 COVID-19_NN1 pandemic_AJ0 ._SENT As_CJS the_AT0 coronavirus_NN1 traveled_VVN across_PRP the_AT0 U.S._NP0 ,_PUN it_PNP became_VVD harder_AJC and_CJC harder_AJC for_PRP supplies_NN2 to_TO0 do_VDI the_AT0 same_DT0 thing_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC truckers_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX0 stand_VVI down_AVP ;_PUN they_PNP masked_VVD up_AVP and_CJC got_VVD to_TO0 work_VVI ._SENT And_CJC it_PNP 's_VBZ a_AT0 good_AJ0 thing_NN1 ,_PUN because_CJS more_AV0 than_CJS 70_CRD %_NN0 of_PRF the_AT0 nation_NN1 's_POS freight_NN1 is_VBZ carried_VVN by_PRP commercial_AJ0 trucks_NN2 ._SENT In_PRP Washington_NP0 state_NN1 ,_PUN 80_CRD %_NN0 of_PRF our_DPS communities_NN2 depend_VVB exclusively_AV0 on_PRP trucks_NN2 to_TO0 move_VVI their_DPS goods_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC those_DT0 trucks_NN2 need_VVB drivers_NN2 ._SENT Unfortunately_AV0 ,_PUN there_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 massive_AJ0 driver_NN1 shortage_NN1 that_CJT 's_VBZ putting_VVG the_AT0 continuity_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS nation_NN1 's_POS supply_NN1 chain_NN1 at_PRP risk_NN1 ._SENT COVID-19_NP0 made_VVD the_AT0 problem_NN1 worse_AJC ._SENT The_AT0 temporary_AJ0 closures_NN2 of_PRF state_NN1 departments_NN2 of_PRF motor_NN1 vehicles_NN2 and_CJC truck_NN1 driver_NN1 training_NN1 schools_NN2 decimated_VVD the_AT0 already_AV0 fragile_AJ0 pipeline_NN1 of_PRF new_AJ0 drivers_NN2 entering_VVG the_AT0 workforce_NN1 ._SENT Which_DTQ is_VBZ why_AVQ I_PNP 'm_VBB sounding_VVG the_AT0 alarm_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 driver_NN1 shortage_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 threat_NN1 it_PNP poses_VVZ :_PUN Just_AV0 as_CJS we_PNP 're_VBB poised_VVN to_TO0 turn_VVI the_AT0 corner_NN1 and_CJC recover_VVB ,_PUN our_DPS economy_NN1 is_VBZ being_VBG dealt_VVN new_AJ0 blows_NN2 ._SENT Microchip_NN1 shortages_NN2 ,_PUN clogged_AJ0 shipping_NN1 lanes_NN2 ,_PUN pent-up_AJ0 demand_NN1 resulting_VVG from_PRP months_NN2 of_PRF lockdown_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC many_DT0 rounds_NN2 of_PRF government_NN1 stimulus_NN1 spending_NN1 are_VBB pushing_VVG consumer_NN1 prices_NN2 upward_AV0 ._SENT Put_VVB simply_AV0 ,_PUN companies_NN2 from_PRP all_DT0 sectors_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 economy_NN1 are_VBB facing_VVG higher_AJC transportation_NN1 costs_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC it_PNP 's_VBZ forcing_VVG them_PNP to_TO0 raise_VVI prices_NN2 for_PRP consumers_NN2 ._SENT But_CJC one_CRD easy_AJ0 common-sense_NN1 change_NN1 would_VM0 alleviate_VVI much_DT0 of_PRF this_DT0 pressure_NN1 ._SENT Getting_VVG more_DT0 drivers_NN2 on_PRP the_AT0 road_NN1 by_PRP passing_VVG the_AT0 DRIVE-Safe_AJ0 Act_NN1 ._SENT Although_CJS Washington_NP0 is_VBZ among_PRP 49_CRD states_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 District_NN1 of_PRF Columbia_NP0 that_CJT currently_AV0 allow_VVB drivers_NN2 under_PRP 21_CRD to_TO0 obtain_VVI a_AT0 commercial_AJ0 driver_NN1 's_POS license_NN1 and_CJC operate_VVB in_PRP intrastate_AJ0 commerce_NN1 ,_PUN these_DT0 same_DT0 individuals_NN2 are_VBB prohibited_VVN by_PRP federal_AJ0 law_NN1 from_PRP driving_VVG a_AT0 truck_NN1 across_PRP state_NN1 lines_NN2 until_CJS they_PNP turn_VVB 21._CRD The_AT0 DRIVE-Safe_AJ0 Act_NN1 will_VM0 change_VVI this_DT0 through_PRP a_AT0 rigorous_AJ0 two-step_AJ0 apprenticeship_NN1 program_NN1 that_CJT creates_VVZ a_AT0 path_NN1 for_PRP these_DT0 existing_AJ0 professional_AJ0 drivers_NN2 to_TO0 become_VVI full-fledged_AJ0 members_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 industry_NN1 ._SENT As_CJS the_AT0 name_NN1 implies_VVZ ,_PUN the_AT0 legislation_NN1 's_POS first_ORD priority_NN1 is_VBZ safety_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP 're_VBB not_XX0 turning_VVG the_AT0 keys_NN2 over_AVP to_PRP just_AV0 anyone_PNI ._SENT These_DT0 will_VM0 be_VBI some_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 most_AV0 highly_AV0 trained_VVN drivers_NN2 on_PRP the_AT0 road_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP order_NN1 to_TO0 qualify_VVI ,_PUN candidates_NN2 must_VM0 complete_VVI at_PRP least_AV0 400_CRD additional_AJ0 hours_NN2 of_PRF training_NN1 —_PUN more_AV0 than_CJS what_DTQ is_VBZ required_VVN for_PRP any_DT0 other_AJ0 commercial_AJ0 driver_NN1 's_POS license_NN1 holder_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 nation_NN1 ._SENT 
