ELDT training

I have been meaning to ask this question. Does it matter if I should do the Online training on my own for the ELDT or should I just go thru a truck driving school and get it done there? Trying to get my CDL permit before hand so the cost of the trucking school will be less. Any advice will be appreciated.



Thanks!

 

You can take all the practice tests for the required General, Combination, and Air-Brake on this website, although I prefer TruckerCountry.com. You definitely should practice and practice on those tests until your routinely and easily score 90+% every time. I would also practice and take the tests for Doubles/Triples, Tanker no matter what type of trucking to may want to do. I can give you a procedure that is guaranteed to get you to pass those practice tests, if you like.

With regards to taking online portion of ELDT, I wouldn't spend time doing that. You have to take the "behind the wheel" portion of your ELDT training at a provider, usually a CDL school, and I can't imagine the CDL school is going to charge you less to attend just the "behind the wheel" portion of school.

You also must pass a DOT Medical Exam and get a medical card to get your permit. If you pay for that before getting to CDL school they school MAY, OR MAY NOT, accept that medical card. Ask the school beforehand or just get examined when and how the school tells you. Remember the DOT doctor is not your "partner in health", he's not your family doctor. He has one job, to disqualify anyone for the reasons the DOT says. Be extremely careful about what you mention. For example, you wouldn't likely make an appointment with the IRS and bring in all of your financial records and just dump them on the IRS desk and ask them to tell you if they found something wrong. If the IRS asked you a question you would tell them the exact answer to that one question and not one single word extra. I'd recommend you treat the DOT doctor like you would treat an IRS auditor. Don't lie, but don't give so much as one word more than necessary. They don't give you a prize for disclosing every pain, cough, scare, or worry about anything medically related. He's not your friend and his future doesn't depend on you paying rent. Protect yourself. Nobody cares about your future as you should care about your future. The DOT doctor is not some CSI investigation lab. All they will know is what you write on the form for them to read. They are going to ask a bunch of yes/no questions. Any "yes" you must thoroughly explain and the doctor gets to decide when your explanation is enough or fails you. Does he need to know your back once hurt when you moved a couch in 2004? Do you have the names, dates, phone numbers of doctors or nurses and facilities that you visited and then told you to take a Tylenol? BTW, if you weigh more than you should, any mention of trouble sleeping or snoring will likely put you on a path to an expensive sleep study before you can get your medical card. They aren't looking to find out about a history of hang-nails or sunburn so don't mention anything that gives them an excuse to dig more into your past unless you want to go through all of that. The urine test will test for sugar and proteins so diabetes cannot be hidden. They DO NOT test for drugs. That test is done before you get hired.

 

Get your CDL permit first. I used an app called CDL Prep. I didn’t study the manual AT ALL. I only used the app for a few days. I received every endorsement on the first try. Literally, I have all of them. It was super easy. If you’re nervous, focus on the general knowledge, air brakes, and combination endorsements first, then go back to the dmv and get the other endorsements later.

From my understanding, the ELDT training has to come through an approved school. The list of approved schools are on the FMCSA website.

Anyway, everyone hyped up the new requirements. I just got my CDL. It’s the same exact stuff except now you have to take the additional “course”, which at most schools is just you watching videos for a few hours. The key is to make sure you’re at an approved school. Most schools don’t charge additional for it either (yet). I paid a little over $1000 for my training.

 

I’d recommend attending the CDL class at a community college or vocational if there is one available .

 

I'm confused on this eldt training..I went to get my cdl through a school back in 1999. I drove otr for 4 years then quit driving. Iet my cdl go, I had all endorsements as well. I was trying to get my cdl again, I've done the state police application or whatever, I've done the self certification and I just went and got dot med card. I'm scheduled to take my permit test on the 22nd. I've went to school in the past, do I have to go again to get my actual cdl?

 

I believe you will since you no longer hold a CDL, but someone else more knowledgeable might know better.

 

DMV won’t issue you a CDL unless the FMCSA reports that an ELDT certificate was supplied by an approved school. It automatically shows in their system. With you obtaining a new CDL permit, they’re going to apply the rules since the change occurred.

 

Here is the actual FAQ's from FMCSA. That said, I've seen states not honor what FMCSA requires, and makes all CDL applicants go through ELDT.
In a nutshell it's for "new" drivers, not for drivers that have held a CDL before.

From Training Provider Registry
Note the portion I highlighted in red.
The ELDT regulations establish minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators in interstate and intrastate commerce who are applying for:

• A Class A or Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the first time;
• An upgrade of their CDL (e.g., a Class B CDL holder seeking a Class A CDL); or
• A hazardous materials (H), passenger (P), or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time.

The requirements do not apply to individuals holding a valid CDL or an H, P, or S endorsement issued prior to February 7, 2022. Individuals who obtained a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before February 7, 2022 are not subject to ELDT requirements as long as they obtain a CDL before the expiration date of the CLP or renewed CLP.

 

They’re going to state that he doesn’t currently “hold” a CDL or have a permit that was issued before February 7th that isn’t expired.

 

They might, but he held a CDL prior to said date so if the state is following FMCSA then ELDT isn't required.
Nothing about that says the CDL has to be current at that date. It specifically says prior to that date.

But as we have seen states not follow FMCSA rules here, it's best to call the SOS (or DMV) for the state and ask.