Minimum Training Requirements for Commercial Drivers - FMCSA Request for Feedback

At least 160 hours in a school to get your CDL, and 3 months with a company trainer.

 

Company trainer with at least 5 years experience.

 

Yes I am new to this but have had my class B for over 30 years. I have also towed many size trailers from small pop up campers, 21 ft travel trailers to 35 ft 2 car trailers behind just as many cars/trucks besides driving tow trucks.

That may work if you are a company OTR driver, I can not see that working for LTL or local drivers can you? I live in a smallish state and have a medical waiver so cant cross state lines for 3 years you have no ideal how hard it is now to get a class A job that does not cross state lines! So tell me if I have to spend 3 years in state and 3 months with trainer I could not even look to drive.

I did go thru a school for my class A (540 hours course) and the trainers I was working with kept telling me to take my driving test early. When I went to do that I was told I did not have enough credits and the school could not let me take the test or would be breaking state accreditation rules.
I know some people have no rights driving a truck and others were born to drive, I saw this at school and I am sure you have seen this too.

I do say the trainers need to have some time like 5 years before they can become one. The school had a rule the trainers needed to have time on the road before they could work at the school. As for driving in snow I don't know how that could be done with a trainer if you spent your 3 months with trainer during the summer. If you bring the rookie back for "snow training" you may not have snow to train in. And yes I have pulled a 3000 lb trailer in a snow storm a few times.

It is all good to have rules but you have to look at all drivers not just OTR to set the rules for. Look at this 3 year waiver I have it works out west in the BIG states but not in the NE small states.
Just my .02
Dave ----

 

i'm opposed to a minimum standard, and here is why

very few of us out here driving had the luxury of having our Dad/Grandpa/Uncle/Best Friends Dad/Uncle to teach us how to drive a CMV. for those of us who did I say "congratulations!"

the rest of us had to do go attend a school and probably most of us attended a company sponsored school. Nothing against Swift/England/Werner/ETC. but how are you a better driver for being taught by them? how are you a better driver for not? we all learn different ways and we all have different backgrounds.

it seems like a "1 size fits all policy" for something that isn't 1 size fits all. its not even a "1 size fits most"

 

Done.

Thanks op.

 

A Government forum is a great idea...so we in the industry can voice our opinions on topics being reviewed. But it can also bite us in the ###. I read a lot of the 807 comments left....and there are a LOT of dumb, ridiculous, uneducated comments (in my opinion) that will most likely be ignored or put the industry as even less respectable in the eyes of the law makers.

I'm begging everyone right now: If you leave a comment, PLEASE think your thoughts out, and present them in a professional respectable manner---they will be accepted and acknowledged a lot quicker.

 

Govt Instructors , sort of like boot camp drill instructors.
Take driver applicants who are out here in the field now
and screen them just like someone
becoming a drill instructor in the Military.
Weed out the ones who don't fit the bill and if that comes up.

Funding would be supported by the trucking companies themselves
since they would inherit these freshly and properly trained drivers.

Its time to get our heads and butts wired together
and come on in for the big win.

 

Ps: The idea being .... they need to learn/understand from the get go
what the fmcsa already expects us to know , and nails us for
when we don't know it.