FMCSA proposes new entry-level driver training standards
The proposed rule would expand behind-the-wheel minimums and add simulator hours for Class A CDL applicants — a push to raise baseline competency before drivers hit the interstate.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released a proposed rule that would expand behind-the-wheel training minimums for Class A CDL applicants and introduce a required simulator component covering adverse weather, mountain grades, and emergency maneuvers.
Safety advocates have long argued that current entry-level training requirements do not produce drivers ready for the real-world demands of interstate operations. The proposed changes are FMCSA's most substantive revision to entry-level training in nearly a decade.
If finalized, training schools and fleets running internal academies will need to adjust curricula and equipment timelines. Public comment is open through late summer 2026.
Source
FleetOwner
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