New bill lifts “costly” Entry Level Driver Training rule

Last week, U.S. Senators introduced legislation that would provide smaller motor carriers with regulatory relief from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations.

The “Trucking Regulations Unduly Constricting Known Service-providers” (TRUCKS) Act was introduced by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), according to a September 15 news release from Cramer’s office.

The bill would work to reverse some requirements of the FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule that went into effect on February 7, 2022.

The TRUCKS Act would allow drivers at trucking companies with nine or fewer CDL drivers on staff to earn a “Small Business Restricted CDL,” which would not require the driver to undergo ELDT training. The restricted CDL would not transfer if the driver moved to a larger company.

Cramer said that the TRUCKS Act would be good for small businesses, helping them to fill driver seats more easily. He also said that the TRUCKS Act would allow workers in agriculture, school districts, and local government to obtain CDLs without the burden of ELDT requirements.

What Are ELDT Requirements?

The ELDT rule establishes minimum requirements for entry-level driver training standards for training providers and CDL applicants.

The rule applies to the applicants who want to:

• Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;
• Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL; or
• Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

These applicants are required to obtain training from a provider listed on the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. This training must be completed before taking a CDL skills test or, if the driver is applying for the H endorsement, the knowledge test.