Washington — A bunch of House Republicans is transferring to repeal a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration remaining rule that stipulates minimal training necessities for entry-level truck drivers.
Reintroduced on July 19 by Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), the Trucking Workforce Improvement Act (H.R. 4738) would rescind the rule, which units minimal training requirements for first-time candidates for Class A or B industrial driver’s licenses or these in search of a CDL improve to Class A or B. The invoice has 14 co-sponsors.
The rule additional establishes requirements for drivers aiming to acquire hazardous supplies, passenger or college bus endorsements for the primary time. Affected entry-level drivers should full training from a supplier listed on the Training Provider Registry earlier than taking a CDL abilities take a look at.
In a press launch, Good calls the rule “regulatory overreach” and cites as impetus for the invoice a perceived driver scarcity that has lengthy lingered as an trade debate.
“My bill will remove obstacles to entry for aspiring truck drivers, enable more opportunities for well-paid jobs and unleash the American economy,” he mentioned.
The remaining rule was initially revealed in December 2016, with an efficient date of Feb. 7, 2020. That date was later pushed again to February 2022.
Jack Van Steenburg, government director and chief security officer at FMCSA, urged the scarcity was a fable whereas talking concerning the rule when it went into impact.
“With an increasing number of people applying for CDLs over the past year, there has never been a more important time to implement minimum uniform training standards that ensure new drivers have both the knowledge and skills to operate safely,” he mentioned in a press launch. “The ELDT regulations were developed with input from driver and training organizations, motor carriers, state licensing agencies, safety advocacy groups, and insurance companies.”
