WASHINGTON — Truckload carrier Covenant Logistics is seeking a two-year federal exemption to streamline the process for employing 2,000 new drivers, the company told regulators.
Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Covenant (NASDAQ: CVLG), along with its logistics affiliate Landair Transport Inc., has petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to allow commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders who have passed a CDL skills test to drive a truck without an on-duty CDL holder present in the front passenger seat, as is currently required.
According to an FMCSA notice published Wednesday, Covenant currently cannot employ a new driver until the driver’s home state issues a CDL. The company must therefore either wait for the driver to obtain the physical CDL credential from the state or send the driver home.
“Covenant Logistics states this results in supply chain inefficiency and a lost employment opportunity for the new driver,” according to the notice.
“States may take weeks to properly document and update the status of a new driver’s CDL after they have passed the CDL skills test, and Covenant Logistics is not able to employ the driver during this time without having a second driver in the front seat of the [truck]. This administrative waiting period has caused a significant burden on Covenant Logistics’ operations.”
Covenant explained that prior to the implementation of the front-seat requirement for experienced drivers who oversee new permit holders, states routinely issued temporary CDLs, valid only in drivers’ home states, to drivers who had successfully passed a CDL skills test.
“This process made it possible for the company to immediately designate a new driver as on duty, and direct that driver to their home state without entering a second driver into an on-duty status,” the company states in the notice.
If granted the exemption, Covenant would join several other large trucking companies, including CRST and Wilson Logistics, in securing licensing flexibility from regulators.
CRST, which was originally given an exemption in 2016, has successfully renewed it by showing that safety has not been compromised with the eased restrictions.
Such exemptions may not be necessary in the future if FMCSA moves forward with a pending rulemaking.
The proposed rule, “Increased Flexibility for Testing and for Drivers after Passing the Skills Test,” would loosen current CDL testing regulations by:
- Allowing CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test to operate a truck without having a CDL holder in the passenger seat.
- Expanding CDL applicants’ ability to take a skills test in a state other than the state in which they live.
- Eliminating the requirement that an applicant wait at least 14 days after being issued a CLP to take the CDL skills test.
The changes are opposed, however, by some owner-operators and by truck safety advocates who warn that rolling back driver testing regulations will lead to more crashes.
Nicole
So your saying these companies, have no regard for the safety of families on the road?
Glenn
I believe they need to go out of business if they can’t abide by the rules. Hopefully they don’t get there wish . If they do then that puts them above the law and as far as them being a safe company
Look at there poor safety ratings and then ask yourself if you want to meet some prick who hasn’t had the proper experience. Don’t allow them to have there way
Eric Maurice Williams
First thing is this. Any student that just passed his/her cdl test should have to go through highway training with any company that hires them for atleast 2 months, the 2nd problem in the trucking industry is bigger than this. It’s our government is allowing way too many foreigners to take our driving jobs and food out of American born citizens mouths. Most barely or don’t speak English. It’s a Shame that there’s too many trucks on the road and companies that operate in the states but are not from here. Our Government is betraying us!
kylemckee@comcast.net
This is just one more reason why I left the trucking industry for good. The trucking industry is antiquated, broken, ill conceived and a detriment to the motoring public. Mega carriers want to be the “big boys” that don’t want or need to listen to the rules. People driving or learning (yeah that’s a joke) to drive have no concept of big rig driving. These so called “trainers” are just as inept and I experienced as the student is. It’s really a shame when a multi million dollar company puts a barely six month long haul driver in the passenger side and expects to train. Now that’s funny 😅👍🤷🤔😲😡
Michael Thompson
Well I better run the small roads I won’t feel safe on interstates with these steering wheel holders
Donna B
This is a problem that shouldn’t be. Out in the road you have people training who barely have experience OTR now you want to make it okay to just let the newbie go. Do you realize how many drivers with these fleets don’t even know how to back up?? They drive like they drive a car because there’s no respect for the size and weight of the vehicle. They don’t know how to even speak English. This request shows these companies don’t care about anything besides how much money comes out of their pockets. Try to be a truck driver for a month and you will see what is really happening on the road.
Bill
All these comments prove 1 of 2 things.
1. Reading comprehension is lacking. Make me wonder if all the “issues” are these people that can’t understand basic English (bet this article is written at a 6th grade reading level).
2. If not comprehension, then they just didn’t read it.
Break it down for the simple folks.
THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE EXEMPTION FOR DRIVERS THAT HAVE PASSED THE SKILLS TEST.
For the super slow – this is the LAST test you need to pass to get your CDL.
The only thing the driver does not have is the physical card DL with the CDL endorsement.
That’s it.
If the physical card was issued as soon as they passed the skills test, then this would not be an issue.
As far as all the other blather about safety from these super truckers, now we already know about their stellar reading comprehension. Now we know they also gain knowledge about the industry from the lunch counter and social media.
Michael
We need to petition the FMCSA not to allow these mega carriers to skirt safety. This is abuse of the system.