New training standards for entry-level truck and bus drivers are paving the way to safer roads.
Operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), such as a large truck or bus, is a vital job, moving goods and people across the Nation. It’s also a heavy responsibility, and requires a higher level of knowledge, experience, skills, and physical ability than that required to drive a non-commercial vehicle. A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required to operate certain CMVs.
Until recently, individuals applying for CDLs were not required, at a Federal level, to complete training before testing for a CDL, though some States have their own CDL training requirements. This changed on February 7, 2022, when the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations were implemented.
Individuals seeking to obtain certain CDLs or CDL endorsements, which allow holders to operate specific vehicles or standard vehicles in specific ways, must now complete training that meets new Federal standards aimed at improving roadway safety.
With input from driver and training organizations, motor carriers, state licensing agencies, safety advocacy groups, and insurance companies, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) developed the training requirements and curricula to ensure that all entry-level drivers complete uniform theory and behind-the-wheel training.
Introducing FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry
On February 7, 2022, to support the ELDT regulations, FMCSA launched the Training Provider Registry, an online database that maintains the official list of registered training providers that have self-certified they meet requirements. Individuals seeking entry-level driver training must select from the providers listed in the Training Provider Registry.
The Training Provider Registry also retains a record of all individuals who have completed entry-level driver training so that State licensing agencies can verify this information before administering the required CDL skills (or knowledge test for the hazardous materials endorsement).
With the increasing demand for truck and bus drivers in recent years, there has never been a more important time to implement national training standards to improve roadway safety for all motorists.
To learn more about who is subject to the Entry-Level Driver Training regulations, to search for a training provider, or to register as a training provider, visit the Training Provider Registry website at https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.
