Puerto Rico advances toward federal commercial driver's license program
Governor Jenniffer González Colón met with FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs this week to discuss integrating the island into the U.S. CDL system, following congressional action on related legislation.
PhotoThe short version
- La Perla reported that the governor met with FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs to advance Puerto Rico's adoption of the federal CDL program
- El Vocero reported that the Build America 250 Act approved in May by a U.S. House committee would include Puerto Rico in the definition of 'state' for CDL purposes
- Both outlets reported that Barrs joined NTSP inspectors and police for a commercial vehicle enforcement operation on PR-22 on Oct. 20
- Barrs visited Tropigas facilities and the Caguas Norte Traffic Management Center as part of the two-day trip according to both sources
Meeting at La Fortaleza
Governor Jenniffer González Colón met this week with Derek Barrs, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to discuss Puerto Rico's transition to the federal Commercial Driver's License program. El Vocero reported that the meeting at La Fortaleza also covered safety initiatives for commercial vehicles and collaboration between federal and local governments. The initiative continues prior congressional efforts to allow Puerto Rico to issue CDLs in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
In May the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved H.R. 8870, the Build America 250 Act, which would modify the definition of 'state' to include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the CDL program. La Perla reported that the legislation provides for FMCSA technical and directive assistance to help the island meet federal standards. Final approval of federal legislation is still required for the transition.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Puerto Rico es parte integral de la red de transporte de la nación, y quienes transitan por sus carreteras merecen el mismo nivel de seguridad que cualquier otra comunidad de Estados Unidos
Our translation: Puerto Rico is an integral part of the nation's transportation network, and those who travel its roads deserve the same level of safety as any other U.S. community.
The source's own statement, as quoted by La Perla. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Esta visita reafirma que la seguridad en nuestras carreteras es una responsabilidad compartida entre el Gobierno federal y el Gobierno de Puerto Rico
Our translation: This visit reaffirms that road safety is a shared responsibility between the federal government and the government of Puerto Rico.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Vocero. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Two-day working visit
Barrs' two-day official visit included meetings with the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works Edwin González, interim NTSP president Ángel Cruz Nolasco, Police Commissioner Joseph González and Puerto Rico Transit Safety Commission Executive Director José 'Memo' González. Both outlets reported that on Oct. 20 Barrs participated with NTSP inspectors and police officers in an enforcement operation on expressway PR-22 targeting risky behavior by heavy vehicle drivers.
The FMCSA administrator also evaluated FMCSA-funded inspection sites, toured Tropigas de Puerto Rico to examine logistics for transporting fuels and hazardous materials, and visited the Traffic Management Center in Caguas Norte to review incident response systems. El Vocero reported that Barrs stated the integration aims to standardize safety requirements for commercial drivers.
Where the sources differ
Both La Perla and El Vocero agree on the meeting between Governor Jenniffer González Colón and FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, the two-day visit schedule, the PR-22 enforcement operation on Oct. 20, the visits to Tropigas and the Caguas Norte center, and the May approval of the Build America 250 Act by the U.S. House committee. La Perla names the bill as H.R. 8870 while El Vocero does not. El Vocero includes a direct quote from the governor about her commitment while La Perla does not. Both sources quote Barrs on Puerto Rico's role in the national transportation network and Cruz Nolasco on shared responsibility for road safety.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when Congress might vote on final passage of the Build America 250 Act, how long the full transition to the federal CDL program would take, what specific changes would be required to Puerto Rico's current commercial licensing rules, or the current number of CDL holders on the island. No cost estimates for alignment or details on potential federal funding were provided.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Buscan integrar a la isla a sistema federal de licencias de conducir comerciales
- Reporting Buscan integrar a la isla a sistema federal de licencias de conducir comerciales
- Reporting Puerto Rico busca integrarse al programa federal de licencias para conductores comerciales
How we checked this
La Perla and El Vocero both covered the governor's meeting with the FMCSA administrator, the legislative background and the sites visited during the two-day trip. The direct quotes from Barrs and Cruz Nolasco appear in both reports while the governor's statement rests solely on El Vocero.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.