IC0519

Independent Contractor
NEWS
a turnkey solution for state DOTs,” said Gorm
Tuxen, president of IPsens. “We look forward
to working with more states – putting our
technology to work -- to make a difference
in the lives of truckers searching for parking
spots.”
Federal grant money is available to help
states offer rest stop parking notifications.
“The federal government has recognized
the parking issue and has stepped up to offer
states funds to implement a truck parking
management system,” Heath said. “We expect
states with parking issues to take advantage of
the funding to make highways safer, and drivers
more productive. If a driver can’t find a spot,
and their hours of service are about to expire,
they’ll often resort to using unauthorized
parking spaces, or park on highway shoulders
or ramps. By providing real-time information
on parking spots, states have the ability to
make an impact on the problem.”
FMCSA issues final rule
to streamline process of
upgrading from Class B to
A CDL
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration last month issued a final rule
streamlining the process and reducing costs
to upgrade from a Class B to Class A CDL.
By adopting a new Class A CDL theory
instruction upgraded curriculum, the final rule
will save eligible driver trainees and motor
carriers $18 million annually, according to
FMCSA.
“Today’s action demonstrates the
department’s commitment to reducing
regulatory burdens and addressing our
nation’s shortage of commercial drivers,”
said Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The FMCSA is amending the Entry-
Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations
published on December 8, 2016. The ELDT
rule requires the same level of theory training
for individuals obtaining a CDL for the first
time as for those who already hold a Class
B CDL and are upgrading to a Class A CDL.
The FMCSA said it recognized that because
Class B CDL holders have prior training or
experience, they should not be required to
receive the same level of theory training as
individuals who have never held a CDL.
The FMCSA has concluded this change will
maintain the same level of safety established
by the 2016 ELDT rule.
“This effort is a common-sense way of
reducing the regulatory burdens placed on
CDL applicants and their employers. FMCSA
continues to strategically reform burdensome
regulations to improve the lives of ordinary
Americans by saving them valuable time and
money — while simultaneously maintaining
the highest level of safety,” said FMCSA
Administrator Raymond P. Martinez.
The FMCSA estimates that over 11,000
driver-trainees will benefit annually by this rule
and see an average reduction of 27 hours in
time spent completing their theory instruction.
This results in substantial time and cost savings
to these driver-trainees, as well as to the motor
carriers that employ these drivers.
The final rule applies only to Class B CDL
holders and does not change the behind-thewheel
(BTW) (range and public road) training
requirements set forth in the 2016 ELDT rule.
All driver-trainees, including those who hold a
Class B CDL, must demonstrate proficiency in
all elements of the BTW curriculum in a Group
A vehicle.
A copy of the final rule announced today
is available here (https://s3.amazonaws.com/
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-
04044.pdf)
To learn more about FMCSA’s Entry-Level
Driver Training regulations visit https://www.
fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-driverslicense/eldt.
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