Last week the California State Senate passed a bill that would require all new CDL applicants to meet a minimum number of behind-the-wheel (BTW) training hours. If it passes the state legislature, California could be the first state in the country to implement entry-level driver training rules with a mandatory minimum number of BTW hours.
Introduced by Senator Bill Monning, SB 158 would require that in addition to passing a written exam and skills test, Class A CDL applicants would also need to complete at least 30 hours of BTW training. While 30 hours may not be enough time to learn absolutely everything, Senator Monning claims that the bill will clamp down on CDL mills and online “diploma mills” which he says “are not programs that have integrity.”
“Commercial drivers who lack adequate training put everyone on the road at risk,” says Monning. “SB 158 will ensure that drivers of big rigs and other large commercial vehicles have the necessary experience to drive safely by establishing a minimum of behind-the-wheel training hours. These stronger training standards will prevent accidents and save lives.”
Groups such as the Truck Safety Coalition also praised the bill calling it “a common sense measure that will protect everyone on the road… it is time the state starts requiring those drivers to have more on the road experience.”
The measure is similar to an early draft of the Entry Level Driver Training rule that the FMCSA proposed at the federal level. By the time the rule was published however, drivers and safety advocates were dismayed to find that all mention of minimum BTW hours was removed. Large carriers rejoiced, saying that the minimum hours requirements would have made the driver shortage worse.
Now that California has taken matters into its own hands, it may become the first state with mandatory minimum training hours – and other states may follow. If the bill passes the State Assembly and the Governor’s office, the CA DMV will adopt the new regulation by 2020.
Source: gobytrucknews, pasoroblesdailynews, ksby
every state should do this for passenger licenses as well. I like the idea just make it for everybody. if you want safer roads make it an across the board thing and you will eventually have it
It’s definitely a good bill and a start to making this industry a little more safe. To all new drivers, take this opportunity to really understand what you have in your hands when you get behind the wheel of 80,000 pounds.
While I’m not against more training, what data do they have to back up their claims that more training will “prevent accidents and save lives”? Everyone believes Truck drivers are at fault for all accidents, and as more dash cam videos are proving, the opposite is true- cars are more at fault in car/truck accidents.
Amen to both, its not just the new inexperienced driver, its a lot of the four wheeler traffic.
There also needs to be a requirement to read and write English signs highway signs so many immigrants can’t read those signs and they cause major accidents