WASHINGTON — Lack of evidence that a CDL exemption has led to safety downgrades prompted federal regulators to conditionally approve on Friday a second five-year renewal of that exemption to CRST.
The Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based trucking company — known formally as CRST The Transportation Solution — was originally granted the exemption by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2016. FMCSA granted CRST a five-year renewal in 2018.
Like similar exemptions granted to other carriers, it allows CRST to get immediate use out of new drivers who have passed the required driving skills testing in one state but have yet to receive a copy of their CDL that must be issued to them from the department of motor vehicles (DMV) in the state where they live.
Current regulations require that commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders be accompanied in the front seat by an on-duty CDL holder. The exemption from this regulation means the CDL holder can now be off duty — potentially in the cab’s sleeper berth.
“CRST believes the exemption will promote greater productivity and efficiency in freight operations, while helping qualified drivers enter the workplace in a timely way by bypassing the delays associated with obtaining a hard copy CDL from the appropriate DMV,” the company stated.
In a joint comment in support of CRST’s 2018 exemption renewal, the American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers Association pointed out that “as the new driver became productive immediately as a team driver … CRST was able to move more freight and the new driver was able to earn more, more quickly.” CRST team drivers earn up to $200,000 per year, according to the carrier’s website.
In approving the renewal conditionally — those who disagree with the exemption have 30 days to comment on CRST’s application — FMCSA stated that it is “unaware of any evidence of a degradation of safety attributable to the current exemption for CRST drivers. There is no indication of an adverse impact on safety while CRST drivers have been operating under the terms and conditions specified in the initial exemption or 2018 exemption renewal.”
Aside from ATA and TCA, however, CRST received little support for either its initial exemption request or its 2018 renewal.
“This is absolutely horrifying,” stated one commenter responding to CRST’s request in 2015.
“Do you really want your family and loved ones on the road with people who aren’t properly trained? The people who decide these things really need to put their families in a car in the same vicinity with the drivers who haven’t been properly trained and see how that goes. Our roadways are dangerous enough, please don’t make it worse.”
But FMCSA ruled in 2016 and in its 2018 renewal approval that CRST drivers “would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.”
“Because these drivers have already met all the requirements for a CDL, but have yet to pick up the CDL document from their State of domicile, their safety performance is expected to be the same as any other newly credentialed CDL holder. Additionally, having a CDL driver accompany the CLP driver who has successfully passed all required CDL skills testing and prerequisites, provides some additional supervision that is otherwise not required for newly credentialed CDL drivers in physical possession of the CDL document.”
CRST, which owns 4,000 power units, according to its application, hires approximately 2,000 entry-level drivers per year who have graduated from CRST-affiliated training centers.
It estimates that 1,000 new drivers per year will operate a truck under the terms of the exemption, which goes into effect this Sept. 24 and expires on Sept. 24, 2028.
Stanley B Sanders
What cloud are these people living on? Just because you passed the skills test to get a CDL means absolutely nothing. Experience is what counts. They do not get enough driving training before being turned loose.
Go to a Truckstop. Sit & watch. I have been hit being parked by a foreign driver trying to park his truck. He was pulling a reefer, going after his 2nd load by himself.
Had another new Cyprus Truck Line pull up at another Truckstop wanting me to show him how to park his brand new KW & trailer.
These people sent him home after riding with a so called trainer for 2 weeks. Did not know how to put fuel in either. Came all the way from Jacksonville, FL. Going to Aliceville, AL. to take his cdl test. Now these people’s main commodity is hauling SHEETROCK.
Steven Walters Sr
This is a company that allows a driver to become a lead driver (instructor) after 6 months. REALLY? So after someone goes through school, gets a CLP, spends 30 days with a lead driver, and then goes out with another driver with the same experience can become a lead driver. Amazing.
Certified
Rollover
Stunt
Team
James Sutton sr
Roads will be more dangerous for that got enough dangerous drivers out here now especially the foreign drivers that have no regards for our laws especially the Mexican drivers
Ralph Bohm
This is unbelievable! I was a lease operator for CRST IN 2018/19 and also trained new drivers coming right out of school. I can tell you from first-hand experience this is a very sketchy company with a very unsafe program. For example, I was assigned a brand-new student to drive with me sitting in the passenger seat and was expected to have this trainee ready to take the wheel after only 72 hours. I started driving professionally I’m 1979. I am currently a driver for Walmart having hired on in 2019 right after leaving CRST.
Greg Cooper
CRST paid someone off..!! The FMCSA is always changing rules to hurt the truck drivers and the industry, their rules slow the freight down.! Also
Makes the ole timers want to quit!! Now they’re changing rules about having a license,,WOW.!! Who would of thought they would do that. Just put it all on a computer and none of us would have to carry anything!! The FMCSA has too much freedom to make up rules, they should be regulated like they do us, regulated more then NASA!! They should be made to provide evidence for a rule change before they can change it. Cut the department down, too many people wondering how to make us miserable.!! What will you do when we all quit driving trucks.??
Edward
This isn’t a good idea because if a trainer is in the front seat, when does the trainer get his rest? This rule change isn’t a good thing at all
Juan duarte
I think that is a good idea in that way people with the CDL permit can learn i little be faster
J8J7M
It should be denied immediately. Every single one of them “New Hires” is basically getting into the seat as fully inexperienced driver’s, taking off with the trainer asleep behind them!
CRST is only looking to financially abuse new hires without the appropriate training! Who in their fkn right mind would allow such an exemption? . . .
They have some of the worst trucks in terms of safety. Nearly 12% of their fleet is put out of service each year because their “Trainee’s” aren’t knowledgeable enough on equipment upkeep!