Moving Words – Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

Timothy Brady

“The best training program in the world is absolutely worthless without the will to execute it properly, consistently, and with intensity.”  – John Romaniello

The time has come for all good movers to prepare for ELDT (Entry Level Driver Training) mandated through the MAP-21 as passed by Congress and signed by President Obama July 6, 2012. The Compliance Date of February 7, 2022 has now been set by the FMCSA.

The ELDT Rule sets a Federal standard for mandatory training of entry-level drivers. It establishes the minimum requirements entry-level driver training providers must meet. It also allows states to set their own requirements which exceed Federal requirements.

The intent of the Federal ELDT rule is to improve safety on our nation’s highways. Its purpose is to ensure only qualified drivers receive a new CDL, a CDL upgrade, or an endorsement. The rule sets a national baseline for entry-level driver training by identifying standards that training providers must meet.

In order for a carrier or CDL school to train entry level drivers; for a current CDL holder to upgrade his/her CDL to the next level, or to attach an endorsement to his/her CDL, they must be listed in the FMCSA  ELDT Training Provider Registry after meeting certain criteria and requirements. The process for a person to receive the ELDT CDL training will be as follows:

1. The person seeking to train for a CDL selects a Registered Training Provider from the list on the Training Provider Registry.
2. The CDL applicant contacts the training provider, secures their services and successfully completes the required training.
3. The Training Provider electronically submits driving training data of each ELDT applicant to the Training Provider Registry.
4. Driver information must be submitted by midnight of the second business day after the driver-trainee completes the training. This must be completed for each student when that student finishes a training program.
5. The FMCSA retains driver data in the Training Provider Registry.
6. The State, prior to administering the relevant skills or knowledge test, must use information from the Training Provider Registry to verify that the driver has competed the required training.

ELDT Compliance as of February 7, 2022 – Drivers exempt from completing an ELDT:

1. Drivers holding a Commercial Learners Permit prior to the compliance date may obtain a CDL without completing entry-level training.
2. If the Commercial Learners Permit obtained prior to the compliance date, or renewed CLP, expires prior to obtaining a CDL, the driver would be subject to ELDT requirements for Class A or Class B CDL.
3. If a driver holds S, P, or H endorsements prior to the compliance date, the driver is not subject to the ELDT requirements for the endorsement(s).

Drivers who are required to comply with the ELDT Rule on or after February 7, 2021:

1. Drivers who obtain a CLP on or after the compliance are subject to ELDT regulations for CDLs.
2. Drivers who apply for a S, P, or H endorsement after the compliance date are subject to ELDT requirements for those endorsements.

So who will qualify as a Training Provider?

The initial answer is private and public schools, carriers and the government. However, less obvious would be owner/operators, moving companies, or even an independent contractor (read that as ‘van operator’) wanting to train their son, daughter or a helper to drive a CMV. The requisite conditions to do so would be to follow the curriculum requirements set forth by the rule and be a registered Training Provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. For more information and to obtain updates on the Training Provider Registry or to become a Registered CDL Training Provider go to https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/

“Job training empowers people to realize their dreams and improve their lives.”  – Sylvia Mathews Burwell