36 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Training Entry Level Drivers By AdamWilliamson, OTA’s Director of Training & Development IT IS FINALLY here. After several years of analysis, discussion, and at least one major postponement in 2020, the new Entry Level Driver Training rule officially went into effect on February 7, 2022. Originally published in 2016, the specifics of the new rule should not at this stage be entirely unfamiliar to carriers. Still, it will likely take some time for the industry to fully adjust. The rule sets a standard for mandatory training of entry level drivers and establishes minimum requirements that entry-level training providers must meet. It is intended to improve safety by ensuring that only qualified drivers receive a new CDL, a CDL upgrade, or related driving endorsements. Drivers must complete both the classroom theory and behind the wheel portions of training requirements from an approved training provider prior to taking a CDL skills or knowledge test. A driver is not allowed to “test out” of the skills training. Data collected under this rule will give states the information they need at critical safety check points. One of the significant differences with this rule is the requirement for training providers to register with FMCSA in the Training Provider Registry. Training providers may include training schools, educational institutions, motor carriers, owner operators, and individuals. During registration, providers must self-certify that they meet all applicable Federal and State requirements including standardized curricula, appropriate facilities and vehicles, state licensing, and documentation of qualified participating instructors. There is no required minimum number of instruction hours. As is the case with carriers, all training providers are subject to audits concerning their self-certification status and are required to produce relevant documentation when requested to do so by an FMCSA representative. This can include specific lesson plans for theory and behind the wheel training as well as records of individual-entry level driver training assessments. Records must be maintained for a minimum of three years. If qualifications are not maintained, a training provider may be removed from the registry after a failed audit. The registry gives drivers the ability to identify and select qualified training providers from the list, a forum for training providers to submit driver training data for review, and a database for states to retrieve driver information for enforcement purposes. FMCSA will retain both driver and driver training provider data in the registry going forward. On a practical level, the new Entry Level Driver Training rule is compelling carriers and other training providers to thoroughly evaluate their current training programs for new drivers. This perhaps will be especially important considering the near future prospect of lowering the age for obtaining a CDL for interstate driving from 21 down to 18 years of age. For such a change to be successfully implemented, it is vitally important that training programs for entry level drivers be robust and effective in maintaining long established industry safety standards. To learn more about the new Entry Level Driver Training rule, visit FMCSA’s webpage for more information: https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov SAFETY During registration, providers must self-certify that they meet all applicable Federal and State requirements including standardized curricula, appropriate facilities and vehicles, state licensing, and documentation of qualified participating instructors.
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