Late last year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed new minimum training standards for commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants.
The new standards would require all CDL applicants to pass an instructional program that meets FMCSA standards. This could help ensure applicants have demonstrated proficiency in knowledge and driver training on the road and on a driving course.
The FMCSA’s updated requirements for CDL applicants may help to improve truck driving and roadway safety. If you were injured in an accident caused by a commercial vehicle, contact Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak’s truck accident attorneys in South Bend for experienced legal help.
New Requirements for a Commercial Driver’s License
The FMCSA’s initial proposal required applicants to complete 30 hours of driver training. However, regulators decided not to include a minimum number of driver training hours in the final rule, a decision that has been criticized by trucking associations and other industry groups.
The FMCSA decided to remove the minimum driving requirement because there was a lack of data about the benefits of additional driver training.
However, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association requires new drivers to log 40 hours on the road. More than 30 states and many CDL training schools require drivers to log a minimum number of hours as well.
The State of Indiana does not require CDL applicants to log a minimum number of hours on the road. Applicants are required to purchase a commercial learner’s permit and are allowed to take the skills test to obtain a full CDL just 14 days after obtaining a learner’s permit.
Issuing new training standards is part of the FMCSA’s effort to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving vehicles that require drivers with CDLs.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, signed into law in July of 2012, requires the FMCSA to take steps to improve commercial motor vehicle safety.
Have you been injured in a truck accident? Contact Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak to find out if you have legal recourse. A South Bend personal injury lawyer from our firm may be able to obtain compensation for physical, financial and emotional damages.
Call us today at (574) 444-0741 or Live Chat with a representative.
