Safety is and will always be the priority in trucking. The new CDL testing rule has raised a few concerns. FreightWaves reported that regulators are checking for loopholes in the new rule. They believe that the new rule will make the roads less safe and see potential fraud in it.
The new rules
The new rule has several sections. They mainly come from the waivers granted during the tough times of the pandemic. Some of them are based on the petition by ATA back in 2020. The proposal is to make the regulations a little bit more lenient. They propose that a commercial learner permit holder who has passed the CDL skills test be allowed behind the wheel without having a CDL holder in the passenger seat. They also want to enable learners to take the CDL skills test in any state, not just where they live. They also want to remove the 14-day waiting period between CLP issuance and taking the CDL skills test.
FMCSA also proposes that third-party knowledge examiners be subject to the same treatment by the authorities as the state knowledge examiners and audited the same way. They will take the exam online, which will help reduce any hint of fraud that could occur. This is one of the changes to ensure that the process is smooth.
The regulations always have a catch. The third-party testers must put up a bond in an amount that the state would determine. The bond would be used to re-test drivers. A re-test will come up if the examiners are guilty of fraud along the way. The examiners will take a 20-hour training course every three years. The course ensures they are up-to-date with everything they need to work well.
Who will gain from the new rules?
In the current laws, for a CLP holder to be behind the wheels, there also must be a CDL holder in the passenger seat. The CDL holder is the supervisor and must be present at all times. The proposed changes would allow the CLP holder to be behind the wheel independently. The CLP hold must have passed the CDL skills test. The CDL holder must be in the truck somewhere, but not necessarily in the passenger seat. It would save carriers a lot. The CDL holder would be allowed to rest in the sleeper berth as the CLP holder driver. It will save on the on-duty service hours as the truck now has two drivers who can relieve each other. The CLP holder would also currently operate on a wage basis.
Opposition to the new rules
The changes have not been smooth, just as anyone would expect. Truck safety groups are not in agreement with these changes. They claim that there isn't enough evidence to show that the new rules will be safe. They state that the negative impact hasn't been factored in in the analysis of the new regulations. All they want is all possibilities to count. They must ensure safety is still a priority, even with the changes.
