True or False: It's legal for an entry level truck driver to receive 10-hours of training in order to handle a tractor-trailer combination vehicle.
Apparently it's...true!
The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association) in the last "Rules-of-Service" overhaul told Congress that entry level truck driver training should contain:
- a minimum of 320 instructional hours
- which includes 92-hours of protected off-street driving (driving range)
- which includes 116-hours of street-driving
However, the FMCSA recently issued their "Final" ruling on the matter and said that all that is required is:
- 10-hours of training
- which includes instruction in hours-of-service
- which includes wellness and whistleblower protection
- which includes driving
Somehow I think that the FMCSA needs to revisit this area. Seems to me that learning how to drive a big rig involves a wee bit more training than 10-hours.
Three organizations have filed a federal lawsuit over this matter:
- OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association)
- The United Motorcoach Association
- Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (non-profit)
Stay tuned. This will be interesting to watch!
8:11:43 PM
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