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FMCSA ENTRY LEVEL DRIVER TRAINING

Updated: Oct 7, 2023

Effective February 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will

require minimum training requirements be met for individuals applying to:

Applicants for a class A or B CDL or a P or S endorsement must complete both theory

and behind-the-wheel training prior to completing the applicable CDL road skills exam.

Applicants for an HME must complete the theory portion of ELDT prior to taking the

Hazmat knowledge exam at DMV.

Exemptions

Entry-Level Driver Training IS NOT required of drivers:

Applicants must be trained by an authorized Entry-Level Training Provider (training

provider) listed on the FMCSA Training Provider (TPR). The TPR site is maintained by

FMCSA which has the authority to remove any provider that fails to meet or maintain any

of the qualifications established by federal or state regulations.

Training Providers

The training providers will ensure that entry-level drivers receive the required theory and

behind-the-wheel training.

An entity must be, or be eligible to be, a Virginia-licensed Class A driver training school, a

Virginia-certified third-party tester, or a Virginia governmental entity to become a training

provider.

All training providers must teach a curriculum that includes all components required

by appendices A through E of part 380 of Federal Regulations and must meet all

(FMCSA) requirements to provide ELDT, including:

Obtain a Class A or Class B commercial driver's license for the first time

Upgrade of an existing Class B to a Class A commercial driver's license

Obtain a hazardous material endorsement (HME), a passenger (P) or school bus (S)

endorsement for the first time

Who held a CDL issued prior to 2/7/2022 with the classes and endorsements being

applied for.

Who hold a valid, unexpired commercial learner's permit issued prior to 2/7/2022 with

the classes and endorsements being applied for.

Obtaining their CDL through Virginia's Troops to Trucks


SM program.

Completing a skills test to remove a restriction.

Require applicants for behind-the-wheel training to certify that they will comply with

federal, state and local laws related to operating a commercial vehicle.

Employ instructors that meet the federal regulatory requirements (See ELDT

Instructors below)

Utilize facilities that meet the criteria set forth in 49 CFR § 380.709

Utilize vehicles that meet the criteria set forth in 49 CFR § 380.711

Allow FMCSA or its authorized representative to audit or investigate the training

provider's operations to ensure that the provider meets the criteria set forth in this

ELDT Instructors

ELDT instructors must hold a CDL of the same (or higher) class with all endorsements

necessary to operate a CMV for which training is to be provided. Instructors must also

meet one of the following sets of criteria:

Becoming a Training Provider

Before applying, applicants should review the federal and state law applying to ELDT,

including:

section.

Verify that all students taking the behind-the-wheel portion of the ELDT curriculum

hold a valid commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license, as applicable

Electronically transmit training completion information through the TPR web site by

midnight of the second business day after the training is completed

Has at least two years of experience operating a CMV requiring a CDL of the same

(or higher) class and/or the same endorsement and meets all applicable state

qualification requirements for CMV instructors; or

Has at least 2 years of experience as a behind-the-wheel CMV instructor and meets

all applicable state qualification requirements for CMV instructors.


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