Training rules to go into effect for new truck drivers
Truckers in Georgia and throughout the country are seeing a new rule take effect to set standards for the training of aspiring truck drivers. The rule promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration became effective on June 5 following a five-month delay caused by reviews by the Trump administration.
It establishes a core curriculum that must be taught to commercial driver’s license applicants and trainee drivers. It also requires new truckers to receive behind-the-wheel training from a list of trainers approved by the FMCSA. There is a compliance window of almost three years, and the rule will apply to all CDL applicants who receive their licenses on or after Feb. 7, 2020.
The reforms had wide support within the trucking industry. However, the lack of a mandatory minimum hour requirement for behind-the-wheel training has been criticized. The initial proposal required new truck drivers to receive at least 30 hours of training behind the wheel. The final standards, however, do not mandate any particular number of hours and instead rely on a proficiency standard.
Training is particularly important for truck drivers, and inexperienced ones can cause great harm. Truck accidents can be devastating to occupants of other vehicles who could receive catastrophic injuries. People who have been harmed in a semi truck accident may want to meet with a personal injury attorney to discuss their situation. If it can be determined that the accident was due to the truck driver not receiving the proper instruction, the attorney might find it advisable to name the training company as an additional defendant in a subsequent lawsuit.