SAGE Offers complete programs for training
entry level truck drivers in accordance with
the U.S. D.O.T. rule. Training at any location
includes materials and completion certificates.
Entry Level Driver Training Program
for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operators
A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule requires
training for entry level-drivers
. The requirements
apply to drivers having less than one year of experience in operating a
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce who are required to hold a
CDL for the type of vehicle they operate or plan to operate.
Compliance Time-Line
An entry-level driver who first began operating a CMV in interstate commerce
requiring a CDL between July 20, 2003, and July 20, 2004 must receive the
training by Oct. 18, 2004.
An entry-level driver who will begin operating a CMV in interstate commerce
on or after July 21, 2004, must receive this training before beginning to drive
a CMV.
Training Areas
The training must include instruction in the following four areas:
- 1. Driver qualification
- Training in this area must cover the federal rules on medical
certification and examination procedures; general qualifications;
responsibilities; and disqualifications based on various offenses, orders, and
loss of driving privileges (49 CFR Part 391, Subparts B and E).
- 2. Hours of service
- Instruction on this topic must include the limitations on driving hours,
the requirement to be off duty for a certain period of time, a record of duty
status preparation, and exceptions (49 CFR Part 395). Fatigue countermeasures
as a means to avoid crashes must also be included in the hours of service
training.
- 3. Driver wellness
- Training in this area must include information on basic health
maintenance, including diet and exercise, as well as the importance of
avoiding excessive use of alcohol.
- 4. Whistleblower protection
- The right of an employee to question the safety practices of an employer
without risk of losing his/her job or being subject to reprisals for stating a
safety concern must be included in the training (29 CFR Part 1978).
Proof of Training
An employer who uses an entry-level driver must ensure the driver has
received the required training and has received a training certificate or
diploma verifying that he/she received the training. A copy of the certificate
or diploma must be placed in the driver’s personnel or qualification file. The
certificate or diploma must include:
