The ELDT Mandate has officially gone into effect on February 7, 2022, which means there are changes in the trucking industry. What do these changes mean for you as a student and the CDL school you decide to attend?
What Is the ELDT Mandate?
The Entry-Level Driver Training Mandate is a new set of federal training rules that all certified CDL training schools must follow. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has designed the ELDT Mandate to make trucking safer for everyone involved. All new drivers entering the industry will receive the same standardized training.
How Does it Affect Students?
Students are affected by the ELDT Mandate in two distinct ways. First, anyone taking their CDL test will need to have received training from an FMCSA approved training provider. Secondly, training is now be standardized for all students. CDL training includes the following rules:
Theory Training:
- No minimum number of hours; must score at least 80% on the assessment
- Lectures, demonstrations, computer-based, online learning, etc.
- May use a simulator
- Topics covered:
- Basic Operation
- Safe Operating Procedures
- Advanced Operation Procedures
- Vehicle Systems and Reporting Malfunctions
- Non-Driving Activities (e.g., Hours of Service)
Behind-The-Wheel Training:
- The actual operation of a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) is equal to the type of vehicle the Class of CDL covers.
- Takes place on a range and public roads
- May not use a simulator to meet requirements
- No minimum number of hours, the training provider will assess and determine each student’s proficiency.
ELDT forces schools to adhere to the FMCSA training rules while also requiring that all schools register and self-certify the following:
Curriculum:
- Must meet the new FMCSA changes listed above
Facilities:
- All facilities must follow all Federal, State, and Local regulations.
Instructors:
- Theory and Behind-The-Wheel Instructors must meet one of two requirements:
- Instructors must hold a CDL of the same or higher class. They will also have the required endorsements to operate the CMV that schools provide during training. Must also have at least two years of experience driving a CMV that requires a CDL of the same or higher class.
- They will also maintain the required endorsements to operate the CMV that the schools provide in training. Must have at least two years of experience as a Behind-The-Wheel CMV instructor.
State Licensing:
- Schools must be licensed, certified, registered, or authorized to provide training per the applicable laws and regulations of any State where training is in person.
Vehicles:
- All behind-the-wheel training vehicles must comply with applicable Federal and State safety requirements.
- Training vehicles must be in the same group and type that driver-trainees intend to operate for their CDL skills test.
At DriveCo, our CDL training already adhered to all the required standards before the FMCSA implemented the ELDT mandate. We are also proudly registered within the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.