Dive Brief:
The FMCSA’s updated driver training regulations for heavy commercial trucks will be implemented on Monday, following a delay that states requested to better prepare. The Entry-Level Driver Training rule applies to individuals seeking a Class A or B CDL. Those who do not receive training from an authorized provider will be ineligible to take the CDL skills test, as stated by the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA).
According to the new regulations, CDL training institutions, individuals, employers, or unions providing training must register with the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. Additionally, CDL schools must adhere to a training curriculum that meets federal standards for both classroom and on-road instruction.
The ELDT aims to standardize training requirements for both public and private CDL schools across all 50 states, with the CVTA expressing hope that these standards will enhance fleet safety outcomes.
Dive Insight:
Fleets are expected to benefit from these elevated standards, as the FMCSA’s primary objectives are to unify training nationwide, decrease fatalities, and eliminate poorly run “CDL mills” that only offer minimal training, according to CVTA’s CEO, Bailey Wood.
With the new regulations in place, some CDL schools will need to enhance their training programs, while others might already exceed FMCSA’s requirements. States like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee may need to upgrade their standards, based on insights from the Truck Driver Institute.
In general, states did not oppose the new training rules developed by the FMCSA in 2016, though some requested a postponement of the implementation initially set for February 7, 2020. The agency granted additional time for states to prepare their CDL branches, but the CVTA recently held a teleconference to provide information on the rollout to members, including schools and fleets that operate CDL institutes.
Part of the new ELDT regulations includes registration, and the FMCSA aims to ensure that required standards are being taught both in the classroom and during practical instruction. Wood noted that approximately 80% of the requirements focused on classroom education.
When it comes to road training, or “wheel time,” instructors must demonstrate “proficiency” in specific skills such as night driving, parking, and space management, although the term proficiency is not explicitly defined in the regulations. Ultimately, the overarching goal is to reduce fatalities involving heavy trucks, with Wood expressing optimism that the FMCSA standards will contribute to this aim.
“We’re going to have better-trained drivers on the road,” Wood affirmed. “Hopefully, this will lead to fewer fatalities involving medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks.”
