If you’ve been concerned with all the stories about young, inexperienced truck drivers (some as young as 18 years of age) taking over for older drivers who have retired over the past couple of years, there’s some promising news.
In a response to concerns over how much training new drivers are receiving before getting their commercial driver’s license (CDL), the federal government is implementing the Entry-level Driver Training (ELDT) rule on Feb. 7. 2022. The rule increases requirements for anyone getting or upgrading their CDL.
How will entry-level training change?
The new rule, which was originally scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 2020, was postponed for two years to allow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) time to implement its Training Provider Registry (TPR). Those providing ELDT must be in the TPR.
The new rule also increases the amount of both behind-the-wheel training and theory courses in ELDT. It also takes the setting of minimum CDL requirements away from the states and puts them in the hands of the federal government.
The new ELDT rule should improve and deepen the training for the new commercial truck drivers among those we all encounter on the road every day. However, there are still plenty of other drivers out there who haven’t received adequate training.
Drivers aren’t the only reason for crashes caused by commercial trucks. Sometimes, the expectations placed on drivers (often in violation of federal safety regulations) by their employers are to blame. Sometimes, there’s a manufacturing or maintenance issue with the truck itself. That’s why if you or a loved one has suffered injuries in one of these crashes, it’s wise to seek legal guidance. This can help you determine the party(ies) from which to seek compensation for your expenses and damages.