Heavy Duty Trucking, April 2019

Find out how to add more driving time back into your drivers day 1 877 CAT SCALE 228 7225 catscale com weighmytruck comNow accepting Make EveryMinute Count WEIGH PAY GET GOING Would you like to add more time back into your drivers day The Weigh My Truck app will help your drivers do just that It is thefastest way to weigh Weigh and pay all from a mobile device withoutleaving the cab so your drivers can get back on the road faster CAT HDT 021119 qxp_ Layout 1 2 11 19 4 17 PM Page 1 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is making it easier and less expensive for truck drivers to upgrade their commercial drivers license from a Class B to Class A through a change to its entry level driver training regulations The ELDT regulations published on Dec 8 2016 originally required the same level of theory training for drivers upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL as it did for those getting a Class A CDL for the first time FMCSA said it now recognizes that because Class B CDL holders have prior training or experience they should not be required to receive the same level of theory training as individuals who have never held a CDL so its amending the rule The compliance date for this final rule is Feb 7 2020 This change will save eligible driver trainees and motor carriers 18 million annually according to FMCSA The agency estimates that more than 11000 driver trainees will benefit annually and see an average reduction of 27 hours in time spent completing their theory instruction The new final rule applies only to Class B CDL holders and does not change the behind the wheel training requirements in the 2016 ELDT rule All driver trainees including those who hold a Class B CDL must demonstrate proficiency in all elements of the behind the wheel curriculum in a Group A vehicle The American Trucking Associations supported the change stating in its comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking that this is an important improvement to the ELDT regulations that will help keep these experienced drivers in the industry C R Englands comment appreciated the agencys effort to reduce unnecessary requirements and red tape for the benefit of drivers and carriers alike But it suggested that drugs alcohol and trip planning should be retained in the proposed Class A CDL Theory Instruction Upgrade Curriculum due to the ongoing importance of these two topics The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association said that while it favored the elimination of these duplicative requirements it would like to see some of the projected savings used to further entry level training specifically behind the wheel instruction Responding to OOIDAs comments in the final rule FMCSA pointed out that the cost savings would be for drivers and fleets not to the government so the agency has no authority to reallocate the savings to other aspects of ELDT In its comments on the rule change the Commercial Vehicle Training Association said While we understand the agencys attempt to remove redundancies for those with substantive experience driving large non articulated Class B commercial vehicles CVTA believes that removing these subjects is not warranted CVTA pointed out that state licensed programs will dictate how programs are taught The reality is that commercial driving schools are more likely to continue to teach a Class A program as filed with their state Deborah Lockridge APRIL 2019 HDT 15 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM FMCSA eases way for drivers to upgrade to Class A CDL