WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering loosening restrictions on its apprenticeship pilot program for 18-20-year-old drivers to allow them in the program without holding a CDL.
A CDL is currently one of the prerequisites for younger drivers looking to be trained by a carrier under the FMCSA’s Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP), a program created as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law in 2021.
However, a recent request from less-than-truckload specialist Pitt Ohio asking that the CDL restriction be lifted for its trainee drivers has prompted FMCSA to consider lifting the restriction for all carriers that are in or want to register for the program.
“If granted, Pitt Ohio believes it would have less difficulty recruiting drivers to participate in the program,” according to a notice the agency plans to publish on Thursday.
“FMCSA also seeks comment on whether this exemption should be limited to Pitt Ohio, or whether it should be drafted to apply to any SDAP program participating motor carrier that is currently listed as a certified training provider for purposes of the [regulations], or that enters into a partnership with a certified training provider.”
FMCSA states in the notice that granting the Pittsburgh, Ohio-based company an exemption of the CDL requirement would allow the company to use commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders in the SDAP program.
However, those CLP holders “would still need to meet all the remaining apprentice requirements, as well as the existing regulatory requirements for CLP holders,” FMCSA noted. Among those are having a valid CDL holder in the passenger seat during training. Pitt Ohio estimates 25 CLP holders would operate under the exemption per year.
FMCSA’s proposal to ease the SDAP requirements is not a surprise given that the number of participants in the program is “far short” of the up to 3,000 apprentices that the federal government was initially seeking, according to Tim Kordula, who runs Karl’s Transport Commercial Driver CDL Training School, an affiliate of Antigo, Wisconsin-based Karl’s Transport.
Kordula, an early participant in the program and a big supporter, “completely agrees” with the exemption Pitt Ohio is seeking.
“I know they have a training facility so they already have the students in class as we do, so this would be a huge plus to enroll them while still holding the CLP to get the jump-start on the SDAP,” Kordula told FreightWaves. “I think it would be a huge benefit for the program if FMCSA broadened the exemption for everybody.”
Mark Starnes
FMCSA has ruined the trucking industry already. No one making rules for trucks and drivers has ever driven one. Truck driving schools only teach how to pass a test, not how to actually drive. If a school graduate hasn’t been exposed earlier in life, or possesses natural talent, they’re not going to be decent truck drivers. I’ve been driving commercially for 40 years, and have trained many drivers. Today’s drivers are the worst I’ve ever seen collectively. Responsibility in young people has gotten worse and worse over time, and the vast majority of today’s 18-21 year olds, do not posses the mentality to drive big trucks.
Jason H
The FMCSA preaches safety, safety, and more safety. Slower speeds, stricter rules, and more regulations because it “saves” lives. Now they are are letting 18 year old drive and on top of that they are not even going to need a CDL. The FMCSA does not care about safety. They only care about control.
SheRose
No, just no. For the most part these “kids” are not ready to be responsible for an 80,000 load on a semi. Decision making skills take a few more years to hone in and be safe drivers.
Jean Hooe
How about NO!
To many reasons why.
Luis Daniel Ramos
Requirements are needed for the safety of everyone. I get to see even allegedly trained cdl drivers being irresponsible while on the road, i.e holding the phone, not moving from the middle lane while impeding normal traffic flow, making sudden moves from lane to lane and is worrisome. So no, training and passing the appropriate tests is a must in order to properly navigate a semitruck. Thank you. Luis Daniel Ramos.
Samantha A Taylor
There isn’t a driver shortage problem it’s an over regulation problem. Putting young adults behind the wheel without proper training is going to increase the amount of accidents. Training needs to be more not less.
Remy Najim
Why ? There are more trucks and drivers than loads .it’s not about drivers shortage but this exceptions to bring the wages down .
Kc
I am so tired of hearing about a driver shortage. It’s an over regulation problem. The 14 hour rule wastes our day. If they would fix the 14 hour rule it would free up more time to actually work. The federal government is focusing on the wrong issues. There is a huge problem with drugs and alcohol and a serious lack of training. As was stated before, there are thousands and thousands of drivers that have no business holding a cdl. The industry has gone so far down hill in the past 20 years. Put kids behind the wheel of semis and it will just get worse.