Any one here self taught?

OOIDA always wants more training for us



Driver training rule: OOIDA wants FMCSA to restore minimum behind-the-wheel hours requirement

Driver training rule: OOIDA wants FMCSA to restore minimum behind-the-wheel hours requirement

James Jaillet

| January 4, 2017



The rule, in addition to establishing nationally uniform training standards for new truck drivers, will establish a registry of FMCSA-approved driver trainers.

Four groups have partnered in petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to halt the implementation of its entry-level driver training rule until the agency restores the requirement that driver trainees perform 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training prior to receiving their CDL.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and three self-described safety advocacy groups — The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Truck Safety Coalition and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways — filed the petition Dec. 21, two weeks to the day after FMCSA released its final entry-level driver training rule December 7.

The rule, which is scheduled to take effect in February 2020, sets a core classroom curriculum required for driver trainees and calls for FMCSA to establish a registry of driver trainers that CDL seekers must use for their training. The rule also requires behind-the-wheel training.

However, in a departure from its March 2016-issued proposed driver training rule, the agency no longer set a minimum number of hours of behind-the-wheel training new truck drivers must perform. Instead, the agency set a proficiency standard, to be determined by each trainee’s trainer. FMCSA proposed a minimum of 30 hours behind-the-wheel training, split between course time and on-road time.


DOT establishes driver training standards for entry-level truckers, adds registry of approved trainers
The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will publish December 8 the new rule establishing the training standards, which encompass both a core classroom curriculum ...

OOIDA and the other petitioners argue the removal of the 30-hour minimum disregards Congress’ intentions for the rule and the consensus established during rulemaking negotiations between FMCSA and industry stakeholders.

“The 2016 Final Rule is not in the public interest because it does not advance safety beyond current practice in which any and all untrained CDL applicants can perform basic minor movements of CMVs and obtain a CDL without being exposed to the real-world experience of driving a CMV on public roads while receiving instruction from a qualified instructor,” petitioners write.

OOIDA has long supported the establishment of an entry-level driver training rule, as have the other petitioning organizations. The American Trucking Association also supports the rule.

 

This rule has a compliance date in 2020. It is for new entry drivers, NOT you.

 

VV,

I'd recommend that anyone who is trying to get there CDL practice the actual course layout until they can handle it flawlessly. It's like trying to do a new dance move without ever practicing.

The test course used to be setup much more in line with real world obstacles, like, backing into a loading dock such as what you practice. By the way, KUDOS to you for doing this. You'd be shocked watching drivers attempt this maneuver in real life...it actually can be comical.

Also good for you to get others to do ride along with you.

But, you still haven't answered my question regarding your future employment plans as a driver?

Will you be hired on at your current company as a driver? Or, do you need to look elsewhere?

If it is the latter, you may run into a bit of difficulty with being brand new with no experience on your own.

 

At least in IL, the hardest part of the course seems to be when they simulate parallel parking into a tight space. Why they expect you to know this instead of something real world like alley docking like you are practicing is beyond my comprehension.

 

I was self taught. Answered the phone and management 1000 miles away asked "can you drive that truck in the yard, We need a delivery now!"
Told them Hell YA!
Looked around in cab, everything in there self explanatory, fired it up and started hauling steel
You really only need to go around a couple of corners to figure how not to clip the toes of pedestrians standing at intersections.
Seen enough truck drivers come into yard that I knew it sure as heck was not rocket science to operate a truck and trailer.
BTW this was for Koppers Int'l, a US based company

 

This is exactly what I did many moons ago. You keep practicing, and don't rush it. You saved $7k, where a lot of people forked out a ton of money, plus you can go anywhere you want once you have your CDL. Not tied down to the mega turds. Good job, keep practicing, you can do it.