The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed mandatory training for entry-level commercial vehicle drivers to address drug and alcohol testing, hours of service, driver wellness and whistle blower protections.

An entry-level driver is defined as someone with less than two years of experience operating a commercial vehicle with a CDL. Training under this rule would not include areas covered in the CDL test which FMCSA noted would be redundant. This training would not be a prerequisite for obtaining a CDL.
Training regarding driver qualification requirements would include federal rules on medical certification, medical examination procedures and drug and alcohol testing. Instruction on hours of service would include limitations on driving hours and the requirement to be off-duty for certain periods of time.
Driver wellness training would cover basic health maintenance including diet and exercise, the importance of avoiding alcohol and drug abuse, and fatigue countermeasures as a means to avoid accidents. Training related to whistleblower protection would cover the right of an employee to question the safety practices of an employer without the employee being at risk of losing a job or being subject to reprisals.
Employers or others who offer the training would issue certificates to drivers. Employers would be responsible for making sure that all entry-level drivers have received the training, and they must maintain copies of training certificates in driver files. FMCSA is also proposing a grandfather provision for drivers with one year of experience who meet certain safety requirements.
Comments are due Oct. 14, 2003.
Additional information, including a copy of the proposal and discussion, can be found at http://dms.dot.gov.
Search for docket No. FMCSA-1997-2199.