The Trucking Industry is Split Over CDL Testing Changes
Hold onto your hats, folks, ’cause we’re diving headfirst into a big ol’ debate shaking up the trucking world about changes to CDL testing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has tossed out this idea called “More Flexibility for Testing and Drivers After Passing the Skills Test,” and let me tell you, it’s stirring the pot big time.
What’s Changing?
The FMCSA’s proposed changes include:
- Letting CLP (Commercial Learner’s Permit) holders drive without a CDL holder in the passenger seat after passing the CDL skills test.
- Allowing CDL applicants to take their skills test in a different state from where they live.
- Eliminating the 14-day wait after getting a CLP before taking the CDL skills test.
Inspiration Behind the Changes
These ideas are inspired by quick fixes during the pandemic and a push from the American Trucking Association (ATA) back in 2020. The public had until April 2 to provide feedback on this plan.
Supporters of the Changes
Some folks are breaking out the bubbly over this. The American Trucking Association (ATA) and several training groups think this rule could be just what the doctor ordered. They see it as a fix for the trucking industry’s big old problem: not enough drivers. Brenna Lyles from ATA isn’t mincing words, saying, “If we don’t sort out this driver shortage, we could be short by 160,000 drivers by 2030. We need over a million new drivers to keep up with the demand.”
Werner Enterprises is also giving this plan two thumbs up. They reckon letting CLP holders hit the road solo while a CDL holder takes a breather will grease the wheels and open up more opportunities for team driving.
Opponents of the Changes
But not everyone’s doing the happy dance. Safety buffs and solo truckers are ringing the alarm bells. Todd Spencer, the big cheese at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), isn’t impressed. He thinks letting CLP holders loose without a CDL holder watching could mean they miss out on important guidance, especially since the training standards aren’t exactly top-notch.
Spencer’s also sweating bullets about ditching the 14-day wait. He says it could mean less-prepared drivers hitting the road. And he’s got a point. Experienced drivers pass on a boatload of knowledge to the newbies, and cutting that wait time could mean less time for learning.
Peter Kurdock from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety isn’t buying what the FMCSA’s selling either. He reckons the changes don’t have enough solid evidence behind them and could lead to folks hunting for easy tests in other states.
What’s Next?
As the FMCSA keeps on pushing this plan, the trucking world remains divided right down the middle. Some reckon loosening up CDL rules is the magic potion for fixing the driver shortage and making things run smoother. But others worry it could throw a wrench in road safety. So, hang onto your hats, folks! The next few months are going to be a real rollercoaster ride as regulators try to figure out what to do next. And you best believe both sides are gearing up for a showdown over the future of CDL tests and road safety.
Conclusion
The trucking industry is at a crossroads with these proposed CDL testing changes. Whether you support them or not, it’s clear that big decisions lie ahead, and their impact will shape the future of trucking in America.
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