A big thank you to Eric Murphy of East Coast Lumber & Building Supply Company in East Hampstead, New Hampshire, for spearheading the recent call with staffers from Congressman Chris Pappas’ office to discuss CDL Class B licensing challenges. Eric, representing a single independent lumber yard with 120 employees, has been a driving force on this priority issue. His leadership in setting up the meeting and sharing valuable insights based on his experience was instrumental.
The discussion with Savannah Rogers and Tanner Faucher from Congressman Pappas’ team delved into the impact of the 2018 FMCSA regulation changes on small businesses like East Coast Lumber. Eric highlighted how the traditional training approach—where employees were gradually trained by experienced drivers in-house—was more effective for their operations. He emphasized that the current requirements for CDL Class B licenses, which now group the training process with Class A requirements, do not account for the differences in how these vehicles are used. The company’s drivers, for instance, typically stay within a 100-mile radius and operate during the day, unlike cross-country truck drivers.
The challenges around CDL training costs and requirements, particularly for small businesses, were also raised. Eric pointed out that smaller businesses often can’t afford the $10,000 cost and eight-week time commitment for training, only to risk losing trained employees soon after certification. He suggested considering a rule adjustment to allow drivers trained in-house to operate within a limited 100-mile radius, as well as a discussion around hourly requirements for training.
ABMA’s Government Affairs team, including Francis Palasieski, David Gluck, and Nicolina Benoit, also participated in the meeting, advocating for adjustments to support workforce development in the building supply industry. The discussion highlighted the need to revisit certain CDL regulations to better align with the realities faced by small businesses while still upholding safety standards.
During ABMA Advocacy Day 2024, held from April 29 to May 1 in Washington, D.C., CDL licensing issues were a key focus in meetings with legislators. ABMA members were encouraged to engage with lawmakers to discuss these challenges and advocate for the Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-Takers Now Safely and Efficiently (LICENSE) Act. This act was a major priority for ABMA in 2023 and became part of a comprehensive legislative package aimed at strengthening the U.S. supply chain, which the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved in early 2024.
ABMA New Hampshire members pose with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., outside his Capitol Hill office in Washington, D.C., during ABMA Advocacy Day 2024. From left: Dan Uhlman, Daniel Keith, Tim Brand, Rep. Chris Pappas, Sara Belletete, and Eric Murphy.
A special thanks to Joe Lassonde of Hammond Lumber Company in Rochester, N.H., for joining the discussion and supporting our advocacy for solutions that benefit small businesses.
Want to get involved? Reach out to us at info@abmalliance.org to learn how you can participate in upcoming advocacy efforts and have your voice heard on the issues that matter to your business!
