The new driver training rule that the industry has been expecting for the last two decades is about to get one step closer to becoming almost a thing that the FMCSA might be ready to propose… someday. The agency announced that it will be conducting a survey of new drivers to gather data that will help to produce a new entry level driver training rule.
According to the FMCSA, an invitation to take the survey will be sent to roughly 82,000 people who will be asked to fill out a survey online. Only new drivers who received their CDL in the past three years will be sent an invitation to participate. Additionally, those drivers will have to have received an inspection in the last 12 months in order to verify that they’re still driving.
The survey itself will take about 15 minutes to complete and will be just one aspect of the research being done to create a new rule. According to the FMCSA’s announcement, “The goal of this research is to contribute to other related research being done evaluating the relationship of CDL [Entry Level Driver Training] to subsequent safety performance of the drivers.”
Though the FMCSA is finally starting to make some progress on creating new driver training regulations, it comes only after a lawsuit was filed against the FMCSA by multiple industry organizations over their failure to supply a rule despite being over 20 years past their deadline.
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Source: overdrive
If TTR gets a copy of that survey, I hope they’ll post it for everyone to see.
I meet the criteria listed to be sent the invitation to participate. If I get the survey, I’ll scan and post so y’all can see it. I’m not holding my breath though…
What make them think new drivers will be the best source of input! I think someone who has been out here 20+ years would have a better handle on what is needed! Some old-school street smarts are what’s really needed in this industry!
I am hoping that when they say”…will be just one aspect of the research being done…” that means that they are going to get input from experienced drivers as well. They should get input from trainers as well, which are generally experienced drivers (at least the places where I’ve worked).
We will see though, it is the FMCSA after all. My fear is that they may be cocky and assume they know what is needed an only want input from new drives to see if they are getting what the FMCSA thinks is good training.
Absolutely!!!how simple is that!!!! Ridiculous having the least experienced decide…it took them more than 20 to come up with something so idiotic…
Safety? No way. It’s all about revenue.
I SECOND john S motion….nothing better that a 10+ yrs experienced driver…No Tickets…No accidents…No late deliveries EVER..would provide the best input. ( and all they have to do is produce the DOT driver Lic. Records for those drivers.
they should send out the survey to drivers with many years experience instead then we can tell them about our everyday dealings with the new drivers who are unable to back into a parking space, swerve all over the place while texting/talking on the phone/eating/etc, driving in the fast lane slower than those in the slow lane, run cars and trucks alike off the road while changing lanes, and my favorite, running off into the median, while texting, overcorrecting, and rolling their truck on its side in front of traffic, then, crawl out, sit crosslegged, hands on knees, palms up, look at the sky and meditate instead of running up the road and trying to warn oncoming traffic there is an overturned truck just around the curve…maybe we could also tell them about the percentage of car drivers that pass us every day while texting , and swerving in front of our bumper with mere inches to spare then slamming on their brakes, etc, etc,while we are at it…then, and only then, would the blame for many problems be placed where it should be, schools that pass out cdl to anyone that pays the enrollment fees, and idiotic drivers of cars
I that what it is? I thought they’d moved the slow lane to the middle, and put the passing lane on the right, and I just didn’t hear about it. Now I know why all those trucks are blocking the passing lane.
we need million milers to get together and make transportation rules, no survey of rooooockies needed.
Getting input from the experienced is the way to go to know what info should be included in training, but if you don’t question rookies, how to do you if any training they got was effective?
The problem with most company training is the lack of failing. Most have an everyone passes attitude. Take the training and they are good to go. I think it’s very important to survey rookies to see what they really got from the training they went through. As long as that data is reviewed by experienced drivers, we can find the weak area’s and improve.
It will be interesting to see if the new rules will also look specifically at who is allowed to do the training of new drivers. It just doesn’t make sense for a lease driver with CR England (as a hypothetical example) to be allowed to “train” other new drivers when s/he doesn’t even have one year of driving experience.
I have been driving for 30 yrs, the way they’re turning out drivers these days,it’s like a puppy mill. I think ALL new drivers,(no prior experience) should be required to run team with a seasoned driver for 12 months.
That’s the way it used to be. Back when I got started, you were required to slip-seat for at least a year before you were allowed to run solo. During that year you were under a microscope and were expected to prove yourself. Nowadays, most of these big companies that “train” their drivers send them out solo after only about 2 months! Another thing that is needed is a little more scrutiny at hiring. I have seen too many dropouts, thugs, felons, and the like out there. These people are usually the ones who couldn’t hold down a job at the local 7-11 so they decide to answer the ad for drivers in the back of the Superman comic book. Then they get out on the road and whine and bellyache about everything.
What makes ya think old folks like me wouldn’t become a raving psychotic alcoholic a week into something like that?
Todd and Herman got it right, We have people making law’s for us that don’t even no witch side of the truck to get in let a loan drive, these new driver’s are a real problem, those south of the border are some of the worst,
Truth is, they DON’T WANT experienced drivers drawing up training rules like that because they will set up a legal framework that will produce skilled, safe drivers and… the only way to do that is to spend MONEY and TIME training them. Just what shippers don’t want, because then the real drivers shortage starts (not the fake shortage we have now) and transport wages and prices will go up.
BINGO
Why are they surveying rookies about changes that are needed for training? They don’t know anything. That’s like asking elementary school students to decide what the curriculum should be. How about we ask the experienced hands what they would like to see in terms of new drivers? I already have a list.
It doesn’t matter what experienced drivers say and anything suggested by them, imposed by the FMCSA, will lower profits. This study is busywork, the FMCSA is trying to justify themselves. They already know the answer.
Come on everyone, hop on this idea…. hehe… another reason for another rule! I can’t believe we missed this one for 20 years!
I’ve been out here a couple of years now and would love to take the survey. I agree they need to get veteran drivers also. I think at this point what they want to find out is what newer drivers were and were not taught. There were several things I as clueless about when I started and feel they should have been covered while being trained. Cargo securment, axle limits and how to chain (last time I saw chains used was the 80’s) I had to learn all of it on the fly. If you get to take a survey please be constructive and don’t just rant we want to be heard not ignored remember that when you are filling out your answers.
Things like
1. DO NOT STOP at weigh stations with a full ramp, trucks on the shoulder or worse, slow or stopped in the right lane. KEEP MOVING.
2. Pallets sideways or not, + why.
3. Look under the back of the trailer, check the fifth wheel release, air lines and cable before moving EVERY TIME. Hook then use a flashlight & hardhat to check jaws on the kingpin EVERY TIME. Check trailer doors and lock(s) EVERY STOP.
here’s a good rule. if you have an IQ above your shoe size. then find a better career path then trucking. the most any driver gets out of trucking. is bad health and extreme poverty.
The problem with most these “big companies not naming no one” is there is no driver training. I taught my friend how to drive a truck but it was 6 month ride along beginning in October and ending in March before I would let him drive my truck so that he could safely be in every possible situation and before I let him go off on his own I knew he could handle most situations. Driver training now a days do not exist. Taking a NEW RECRUIT from a desk job to driving a semi down the highway in 3 weeks is beyond me but safely said you either got it or you don’t. My problem with the driver training method of most our large companies is you go through the 3 week course and you Have your cdl. (Good that is good work and you at the point are now ready for your training) but big companies see “look at our fully trained fleet of truck drivers” and they stick them in a truck with another driver that has been driving 6 months AS A TEAM OPERATION. WHO IS MANNING THIS SHIP…….. DING DONG THE WITCH IS GONE.lol it clearly amazes me how nieve large companies can be. When I first started pulling flatbed 10 years ago there was a company I went to work for. I had GENERAL LOAD SECUREMENT down but AFTER physically watching how I secure a Suicide coil they felt needed more training. A entire month I spent riding local securing coils lumber and machinery.at the end of the month I went back in for another shot at load SECUREMENT (the had a flatbed with a coil pipe and a machine to test you on to see you know all aspects) and passed with flying colors. 3 weeks reading a book and the 3 weeks “training” I mean teaming is not safe and they wonder why so many new drivers end up killing so many people in bad weather situations… You want proper training. Put them local in a day cab for a month riding around city streets. I did that 3 years before doing otr… For some magical reason the only difference was where I showered slept and I happen to have some extra space.Thank you all that DO NOT KNOW and are a Proud to admit it and ask questions. Keep safe keep truckin and God bless to each and everyone of you
As a rookie driver (18 months) there is NO WAY i am going to take driving advice from another rookie (less than 5 years). The reason this industry is so screwed up is because driveres are “trained” how to move product, not how to get there safely. As a newer driver the best knowledge is that of veteran drivers. With these automatic transmissions and the anyone can drive a truck mentality the issuues of saftey are a greater concern than ever before.
Smart man.