FMCSA announces plans to issue proposed entry-level driver training rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 4 made public its “negotiated” proposed entry-level driver training rule that would revise the standards required for new interstate and intrastate commercial vehicle operators to obtain a commercial driver license.

The proposal does not specify a minimum number of hours that driver-trainees must spend on classroom theory, but it would require that Class A CDL driver-trainees receive a minimum of 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training, with a minimum of 10 hours on a driving range.

The Class A driving instruction also must include either driving 10 of the total required hours on a public road or 10 public road trips — each being at least 50 minutes.

Class B CDL driver-trainees must receive a minimum of 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training, with a minimum of seven hours of public road driving.

The proposal said the entities providing training must meet minimum curriculum qualifications, be listed on FMCSA’s proposed training provider registry and submit electronically to FMCSA the training certificate for each individual who completes the training.

See full article originally published in Transport Topics.