CDLS Hold Steady in IL

The Illinois Secretary of State reports to us that the number of drivers holding CDLs in Illinois has remained fairly consistent despite the increased standards for training, testing and a focus on enforcement.  In 2004, Illinois had 462,830 CDL drivers.  In 2009, the number was 459,841.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released statistics recently that shows that in 2009, fatalities involving large trucks decreased by 20%.  In Illinois, the decrease in fatalities was even more dramatic, with only 88 fatalities in 2009 compared to 146 in 2008 and 191 in 2005.  This equates to a 54% decrease from 2005 to 2009.  In 2008 the Illinois Secretary of State required all out of state drivers to retest and meet the IL CDL standards.  While the CDL regulations can be challenging, it is also good to recognize from time to time that there are benefits to some regulations.  IFCA maintains an excellent relationship with the IL Secretary of State and we thank them for sharing these statistics with us.