Entry Level Driver Training
The Entry-Level Driver Training mandate is set as the baseline for entry-level drivers by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) after a lengthy negotiated rule-making process. The guidelines are based on the recommendations of the Entry Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC) comprising cross-sections of motor carrier interests.
A Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driver in the United States is legally bound to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). To possess such a high-class license to drive a heavy vehicle, the prospective driver must complete the CDL training from a school certified by the FMCSA to provide the said training. It is an industrial informative course, built to improve and then test the skills and knowledge that are expected from a CMV driver.
Previously, students were supposed to get a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) which allowed them to practice their driving skills on public roads accompanied by a CDL licensed instructor. Only after getting a CLP could a student complete the CDL training and obtain the license. However, FMCSA brought a change to this pattern, effective from February 7, 2022, whereby it introduced an Entry-Level Driver Training program as an intermediate step between CLP and CDL.
