Proposal to alter entry-level driver standards

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is proposing mandatory training requirement standards for entry-level drivers seeking commercial licenses, according to information Aug 15, 2003, inThe Federal Register. This action follows a study that found the training of entry-level drivers in the heavy truck industries was inadequate.

The proposal for 49 CFR Part 380 is not requiring entry-level drivers to receive training in areas covered in the commercial driver license (CDL) test. Instead, the required training would address driver qualifications—medical, drug, and alcohol testing, driver hours-of-service limitations, driver wellness, and whistle-blower protection. These are training areas not covered in the current CDL test.

In addition, FMCSA is requiring drivers to be trained only in the areas appropriate to their driving occupation as entry-level drivers. Although the proposal does not specify a required number of hours for the training, the agency estimates that it would require approximately 10.5 hours for heavy-truck drivers. For more information about the proposal, click here for The Federal Register.