Is Commercial Truck Training Adequate or Insufficient?
New Commercial Truck Driver Training Regulations Set to Improve Safety
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been working tirelessly to enhance safety on highways by introducing stricter regulations for commercial truck drivers. One of the key changes, the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules, is set to take effect in February 2022 [2].
These new regulations call for more actual behind-the-wheel training and less simulated training, aiming to produce safer, more competent drivers [2]. The training process involves studying commercial truck-related rules of the road and simulation training, followed by real-world driving experiences [3].
The ELDT rules are an extension of the stricter regulations introduced by the FMCSA in 2016 [4]. These regulations aimed to establish federal minimum training standards for new commercial truck drivers and have been instrumental in improving safety on highways. However, the effectiveness of these regulations has been debated, with concerns over enforcement and exemptions [1].
The new ELDT rules are designed to address specific truck driver safety concerns in states where commercial truck crashes are higher than desired. The training period usually takes several weeks, and drivers cannot operate commercial trucks without a CDL (commercial driver's license) [3].
The general public is likely to support these new, potentially challenging training requirements due to safety concerns. After all, the thought of someone without enough commercial trucker training driving an 80,000-pound vehicle is terrifying to most people [1]. If a commercial truck accident occurs, it can result in severe injuries or fatalities [5].
It's important to note that there are three different types of CDLs, depending on the intended haul, the truck variety, and whether the driver will operate within or outside the state [3]. The FMCSA argues that simulated trucker training did not work as well as real, behind-the-wheel time [4].
In 2018, commercial truck accidents in Texas resulted in 664 deaths [6]. The effectiveness of the new training requirements will not be fully apparent until a few years into the new protocol and traffic stats are available for comparison.
The FMCSA, a regulatory body that governs truckers and commercial truck licenses, imposes penalties for non-compliance [4]. Commercial truck driver training is required in all states, similar to obtaining a regular driver's license [7].
While some new truck drivers may find the enhanced training requirements challenging, the overall goal is to ensure a safer workforce and reduce the number of accidents on our highways. As we move towards the implementation of the ELDT rules in February 2022, it's crucial to continue focusing on tightening enforcement and improving the quality of training to ensure the safety of everyone on our roads.
[1] https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/eld/faqs [2] https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/eld/final-rule [3] https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/commercial-driver-liscensing [4] https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2017 [5] https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/vehicle/large_bus_truck/index.html [6] https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/travel/traffic/crash-reports/crash-statistics/2018.html [7] https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/commercial-driver-liscensing/commercial-driver-liscensing-program-cdl-requirements
