Driver Training Rule Exemption Request Declined by FMCSA
The latest news from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reveals yet another denied exemption request.
Following the rejection of individual truck drivers’ pleas for exemptions regarding sleeper berth and hours-of-service, the agency has now turned down a request for exemption concerning entry-level driver training rules.
In an upcoming announcement scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on July 19, the FMCSA stated that the request lacked substantial evidence to support the claim that the exemption would maintain an equivalent level of safety.
Empowering Graduating Students for Successful Re-Entry
Back in December, Robert Towle submitted a request on behalf of graduating students from the commercial driver’s license Prep Class of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Special School District Granite State High School. The request sought exemptions from the obligation for training providers to employ instructors who meet the criteria of “theory instructor” and for first-time commercial driver’s license holders to complete training from a school listed on the Training Provider Registry.
Towle, currently an inmate at the New Hampshire State Prison, argued that the revised skills test would provide a similar level of rigor as the existing exams to ensure that participating CDL applicants possess the necessary knowledge and skills to operate commercial motor vehicles safely. He further claimed that the exemption would enable students to receive the required theory instruction, thus obtaining their commercial learner’s permit as part of their community re-entry plan, leading them closer to job-readiness.
Upholding Safety and Eligibility Requirements
Upon the submission of the exemption request, a total of eight comments were received, with seven expressing opposition to the proposal. The Truck Safety Coalition, in one such comment, stated, “Reducing the experience level and quality of training provided by verified, qualified instructors unnecessarily risks the lives of all roadway users and fails to provide Mr. Towle with the quality of education needed to best set him up for success as a professional truck driver. The best course of action for all parties is for GSHS to take the measures necessary to fully comply with entry-level driver training requirements in the provision of its CDL training class.”
In response to the comments received, the FMCSA denied the application, emphasizing that any potential training provider must fulfill all applicable eligibility requirements to be included on the Training Provider Registry.
It is worth noting that the entry-level driver training rule came into effect in February 2022. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has long been advocating for a driver training rule and has called for the reinforcement of the requirements.
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