Only a start

After years of waiting, an entry-level driver training rule is taking effect.

The new standard goes into effect Feb. 7 but does not require a minimum number of behind-the-wheel hours. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says the rule didn’t go far enough and should only be considered a start.

A long road

It has been more than five years since the entry-level driver training rule, which details the curriculum for individuals seeking a CDL, was published on Dec. 7, 2016. At the time, the rule was set to go into effect on Feb. 7, 2020. However, just before the rule was set to take effect FMCSA officially delayed implementation for two years so the agency would have time to complete the Training Provider Registry. OOIDA opposed the delay, saying the decision directly contradicted FMCSA’s mission to reduce crashes.

The entry-level driver training rule details the curriculum for individuals seeking Class A and Class B CDLs to drive trucks and/or buses. Additional curriculum segments are included for specialized niches, like hazardous materials.

The rule does not include a specified amount of time required for behind-the-wheel training for either range or on-road training. Instead, the agency opted for a proficiency-based approach to accommodate individuals who learn at different paces. The trainers will be required to check off on a list of skills as each is mastered.

“Beginning Feb. 7, 2022, the new entry-level driver training regulations will require certain CDL applicants to complete training before being permitted to take the required skills or knowledge test,” FMCSA wrote. “Training is not required if your (commercial learner’s permit) is issued prior to Feb. 7, so long as you obtain your CDL before your CLP or renewed CLP expires.”

‘Absolute lunacy’

OOIDA has long advocated for the implementation of an entry-level driver training rule and has pushed for a minimum number of behind-the-wheel hours to be included.

The Association says that a good driver training program is a way to improve highway safety and driver retention.

During a driver retention roundtable discussion in July, OOIDA President Todd Spencer described the status quo as “absolute lunacy.”

“The driver training stuff … Jeez, we have so far to go in those areas,” Spencer said. “It is absolute lunacy that we have big carriers today that’ll have a trainer and a trainee in the truck, and the trainer may have no more than six months of experience. And they go down the road, and that passes as acceptable.”

Spencer acknowledged the incoming rule as progress but said the work is not done.

“We supported from the very beginning of our organization (OOIDA started in 1973) the need for better training,” Spencer said. “We haven’t gotten there yet. I appreciate what FMCSA has done, but it should be just a starter thing.”

Training Provider Registry

The agency launched a Training Provider Registry in 2021 to “help commercial driver’s license applicants connect with training providers that are self-certified to provide entry-level driver training.”

By entering an email address, truckers can sign up to receive information on entry-level driver requirements, requirements for training providers, registering as a training provider, training requirements and curricula, state driver’s license agency requirements, and website enhancements or new resources. LL