FMCSA proposes national training standards for new truck drivers

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed a set of national prerequisite training standards for entry-level commercial truck operators seeking to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL).    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed a set of national prerequisite training standards for entry-level commercial truck operators seeking to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). 
   The agency said the proposed rule reflects its discussions with a committee comprised of FMCSA representatives and 25 stakeholders, including 25 representatives from carriers, highway safety, driver training, state licensing, law enforcement, labor union, and insurance industries, and responds to a congressional mandate under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. 
   Under the proposed rule, applicants seeking a “Class A” CDL – necessary to operate a tractor-trailer weighing 26,001 pounds or more – would be required to obtain a minimum of 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training from an instructional program that meets FMCSA standards, including a 10-hour minimum of operating the vehicle on a practice driving range.
   Applicants seeking a “Class B” CDL – necessary for operating a heavy straight truck (such as a dump truck or box truck) – would be required to obtain a minimum of 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training, including a minimum of seven hours of practice range training.
   “There is no proposed minimum number of hours that driver trainees must spend on the classroom portions of any of the individual curricula,” FMCSA said.
   The agency said mandatory, comprehensive training in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories would apply to first-time CDL applicants; current CDL holders seeking a license upgrade or an additional endorsement, such as hazardous materials transport; and a previously “disqualified” CDL holder seeking to become re-licensed. 
   The American Trucking Associations praised the proposed rule’s overall intent to raise standards and improve safety, but questioned the number of hours of instruction or practice a new driver will have to receive before attaining a CDL.
   “Some prospective drivers may demonstrate proficiency before reaching an arbitrary minimum hours requirement, but more concerning is the possibility that achieving this time threshold will erroneously convey competence and possession of the skills needed to safely drive,” Bill Graves, ATA’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.