New truck driver training rule delayed by Trump
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has officially delayed the start date of a new rule that sets national training standards for truck drivers in Georgia and across the U.S. The move comes in response to a Jan. 20 memorandum by President Trump ordering federal agencies to temporarily freeze all pending rules for 60 days.
The Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Vehicle Operators rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 8 and was scheduled to take effect on Feb. 6. It is now scheduled to be implemented on March 21, though it could be delayed again, pending review by the Trump administration. The rule sets a core classroom curriculum for individuals seeking a commercial driver’s license. Students must also complete behind-the-wheel training, but the rule does not require a minimum amount of hours. A previous draft of the rule required 30 hours of training behind the wheel, but that provision was scrapped. The rule will also create a national list of certified CDL trainers, and all CDL trainees must be instructed from a trainer on the list.
The entry-level driver rule has a three-year implementation window and a compliance date of Feb. 7, 2020. For now, the compliance date has not been changed.
Commercial truck drivers need to be properly trained to help prevent accidents. If a semi truck collision is caused by an unqualified driver, injured victims may have grounds to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against that driver and/or the trucking company. Typical damages awarded in such a suit may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other applicable amounts.
Source: Overdrive Online, “Per Trump order, FMCSA delays new driver training rule,” James Jaillet, Jan. 31, 2017