RVers sometimes find themselves at odds with the trucking community over road safety issues. This time, it appears they could be on the same page. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has proposed a number of changes in the CDL (commercial driver’s license) rules. Aimed at “increasing flexibility,” at least one of the proposals is causing a push-back among truckers, who fear it will make the roadways unsafe.
Among the new rules are these:
- Allow applicants to take the skills test in a state away from their state of residency.
- Remove the existing requirement that CDL permit holders must wait at least 14 days after getting their learner’s permit to take the skills test.
- Allow CDL learner’s permit holders who pass the skills test to operate commercial vehicles on public roads without a qualified CDL holder in the passenger seat.
CDL rule changes “take away the training wheels”
The CDL rule change that is perhaps the most frightening to truckers is the last one. It might be likened to taking away the training wheels from the new bicyclist before they’re ready to fledge. But in this case, the potential is far worse than a few scrapes and bruises. A rig scaling in at 60,000 pounds with hundreds of horsepower can do a lot more damage than a kid on a bike. Yet, too often, it is a “kid” in terms of a driver’s experience when a commercial truck accident happens.
A study by the National Center for Surface Transportation Safety Excellence yielded findings that weigh into this. The study compared truck drivers’ ages and experience levels against their respective crash rates. Data was collected from more than 21,000 drivers. It showed that considering a truck driver’s experience is the best way to determine their likelihood of being involved in an accident. Novice truck drivers are more likely to cause motor vehicle accidents.
Truckers fire back
Jay Grimes, a director with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, had this to say about the proposed rules: “Changes should not sacrifice necessary skills testing or driver training,” Grimes wrote. “OOIDA has long expressed opposition to waiving requirements for a CDL holder to accompany a commercial learner’s permit driver in the front seat. Far too many drivers are entering the industry without the proper training to safely operate a CMV.” [Commercial motor vehicle]
Even the rank-and-file “Joe Truckers” are concerned about these proposed CDL rule changes. Commercial driver Jason Griffin took early advantage of the pubic comment period and left his thought with FMCSA: “I’ve been driving truck for 28 years and seen (good regulations) and a whole lot bad,” Griffin wrote. “I feel like this is a bad one. It seems designed to benefit mega carriers with no regard for anything but making money. Any stroll down social media proves these new drivers need all the training they can get. Half of them have no clue how to drive a truck but (are) turned loose anyway. How could a skills test possibly teach drivers real-life situations? I say no to this regulation change.”
Are you comfortable with this?
What do you think? Are you comfortable with “taking the training wheels off” and sharing the highway with a novice trucker with no backup in the cab? You can comment on these CDL rule changes by clicking here. Comments will be taken through April 2.
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Let me give another perspective… My son was in Michigan Army National Guard (combat engineer). He had training, testing and obtained licensure to drive everything the MANG owned between a bobcat and 5-ton trucks (with trailers) – on all US public roads, through disaster locations, let alone through combat zones. After a tour in Baghdad, he opted to not reenlist. While he was trying to figure out what to do as a FT civilian, he thought he could work as a delivery truck driver. Guess what? Michigan told him he would have to complete a civilian CDL school before he could even apply for a civilian CDL license.
I drove a tank and wouldn’t have any problems with taking the test. Rules are rules.
That’s crazy, Jim. I’m not even sure all states require a CDL for ‘pie wagons’ or ‘box trucks’.
Agree. Nevada has no requirement for CDL up to 26,000 GVW. I have several on the road and no CDLs required.
That is because a Class C driver’s license allows anyone to drive a vehicle up to 26,000 pounds. Going over that requires a Class B license. Those same requirements apply to owners of RV’s. Those towing any RV over 10,000 pounds should have a non-commercial Class A license. And those driving RV’s over 26,000 lbs. should have a non-commercial Class B. Unless already licensed with a commercial Class A, B, or both. Moving violations for most commercially licensed drivers are stricter and apply when they are driving their passenger car too, including blood alcohol limits.
Pretty sure I’m in 100% agreement, just didn’t lay out the why it is as it is.
I was a Combat Engineer Driver. I had the Army test here in the States and then had to retest to drive in South Korea. I see no problem with having to re-test for a CDL. Makes sense to me.
A skills re-test makes sense to me as well.
I think the objection was to the requirement to take another course, to go through additional training, before he could take the test. (Perhaps like having to go through elementary school again, to learn how to read, rather than having the previous experience recognized and accepted.)
Perhaps the course is a test in itself, substituted for a skills test in the license test. There was no mention of a skills test requirement as part of taking the test, so the test itself may only be a paper test.
@KellyR had it right. Applying, paper & skills test by the State wasn’t the issue. The requirement to spend money he didn’t have to attend an approved CDL school before he could apply was the issue. I know Michigan has since looked closely at a lot of licensed jobs that previously rejected equivalent military training and made adjustments. The point is now moot for him as he is a Sr. robotics engineer for mega warehouses.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! The proposed changes are frightening. I already think that too many truckers seem under-trained or under-skilled, but they are the minority. If this goes through, then they will be in the majority. Driving on any road or street truckers are allowed to drive will become a much more dangerous propsition. Thank you, too, for the link to leave a public comment; I did. 🙂 Safe travels! 🙂
Relaxing the drivers standards, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all…Thank you for the link to leave a comment with this article
Filed an official comment. Upshot is the proposed (slackening) changes to CDL licensing is absurd. The 21,000 driver study points that out very clearly.
In my career, I was a licensed CDL holder, Class A, B, C, doubles, triples, cargo tank, hazmat, and passenger endorsements and trained drivers to pass their CDL DMV administered exams. My career experience suggests most of my students would fail a CDL exam without on the road training. No one went for a DMV exam without first being qualified in my opinion and me in the passenger seat. Business may train and license their own CDL driver’s too if having an approved program. And you never know if there is a licensed driver in an 80,000 lbs. truck or half-ton pickup towing 11,000 lbs. or more RV.
As the son of a trucker (who turns 92 this year), he trained me. Long before I was allowed to obtain a permit, much less a license, he had me do hundreds of hours of training. These multi-hour sessions, over 5 years, started with parking maneuvers. Learning how big the car was. He’d have me park forwards and backwards, do figure 8’s also forwards and backwards. He emphasized smoothness of vehicle handling, and distance from me to the vehicle ahead. I passed my driving test with zero mistakes, on the first try.
My son, on the other hand, assumes he is perfect, and is more of having fun than learning to drive properly. At this point he has 10 hours with me and an instructor,… cont.
cont…., my son thinks he’s ready for his test. NO! I will not allow him to get his license, before turning 18 unless he can prove to me and my wife that he takes his lessons, and skill set seriously improves.
PS. I only 1/2 jokingly told him he needs to prove that he can drive our Class-A RV in traffic and on backroads safely, or he’s not getting his license.
Ask Humboldt Saskatchewan what happens when a new semi driver thinks stop signs don’t apply (T-boned a bus full of young hockey players killing many).
I think there needs to be discussion on requiring a CDL for private individuals in order to drive large motorhomes and tow large trailers. Some of these are close to the size of semis, not sure why there isn’t this requirement? Or, at the least, require some kind of road test to prove they know how to handle the vehicle.
PA and other states have laws for RVer’s. I am scheduled to take a driving test on Feb 27th. If the combined weight is 26001lbs you need a class A non commercial drivers license.
PA DOES NOT require an RV operator to be licensed higher than a non-commercial class C as long as it is NOT being used commercially in any way. If then it is being used commercially that is where a CDL license comes in place. Also a non-commercial class B license is 21,001# or more. A class A non-commercial license is the combination weight must be 26,001# or more provided the towed unit/trailer must be 10,001# or more. If the applicant has a non-commercial class C license and wishes to upgrade, then written and skills tests are required with the type of vehicle class they are upgrading to.
We live in Texas and use our 45 foot RV plus tow for vacations and my husband was required to take the driving test. He had 3 DPS employees in the RV telling him to parallel park, etc. he passed. We have been RVing for 24 years it was easy for him. I definitely think newbies need to do this.
You should also take the test. You never know when a medical condition will make it impossible for your spouse to drive. Imagine stopping somewhere remote with no cell service and a stroke happens to the driver. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.
The rules we have used for years are too difficult for younger people to follow. so the obvious solution is to change the rules. I would be surprised if any insurance carrier would support this nonsense.
While I disagree with these proposed rule changes I would like to see nation wide rules for RV drivers in coaches >26,000 pounds. I applaud the few states that require Class B Non CDL licensing requirements but this needs to be a nationwide requirement. Far too many owners have no demonstrated competencies on how to drive their rigs.
I absolutely agree. And for RVs 30-40’ the driver should at least be required to complete an RV driving course. Right now under current laws, any driver who has never driven anything bigger than a small sedan or SUV can step into a big RV and drive it, when some of those drivers aren’t even safe enough drivers to drive a pick up truck, let alone a big RV. I’ve seen so many dangerous RV drivers out on the road, and it’s really scary!
And regarding changing/lowering the requirements for new CDL drivers – BAD IDEA! We’re already seeing the decline of skilled truck drivers on the roads.
I have a class A CDL. When I got my CDL I was a Texas resident but I went to truck driving school in Cedar Rapids Iowa and that’s where I took my driving test. So I don’t understand the first point where they’re thinking of allowing you to take the skills test in a state other than your own, because that’s already been a thing. Also, CDL’s have been a federally standardized program since before I got my license, so the requirements are the same nationwide. From my time at an all automatic truck driving school I can tell you that the real safety issue is that since pretty much anyone can drive an automatic the people I saw at the school probably shouldn’t be driving cars let alone semi’s.
I’m not saying that I agree with the proposed rule change, but I do want to point out that it is quite similar to what you will find in aviation. What is described above sounds just like solo operations of a student pilot. Once you’ve taken a skills test and demonstrated the abilities described in 14CFR61.87 you are required to log hours as the sole occupant of the aircraft during daylight hours, over cross-country routes, and at night.
I think that the issue is that according to the new CDL rule, using your aviation example, the new pilot would be allowed to fly an airplane solo without the need to demonstrate the ability to fly the plane.
A period where the new CDL trainee is observed and coached by an experienced CDL holder would no longer be needed.
Not sure about this but my son wanted to be a truck driver. He went to a CDL school and got his license. He had no idea how to really drive the truck safely – not so much on the road but in rest areas cutting too sharp when pulling out of a parking spot. The final check to his career was when backing into a warehouse wiping out the doors on the trailer. He wanted to drive my motorhome – told him no way.
Don’t think rv’ers as a whole unless they do hold a CDL and worked as a CDL driver have the knowledge to comment.
Agree! The person who posted about being trapped between two semis should not have let that happen. 36 years driving truck and I ALWAYS did whatever I had to do to keep myself out of potential trouble spots or situations. I’m a full time RV’er now and I continuously keep using my experience as a professional truck driver to keep myself and others on the road as safe as possible. These proposed rule changes are dangerous in my opinion. Hell, a LOT of the bigger RV rig drivers should be required to have training or at least pass some type of skills test.
I have found myself sandwiched between two trucks, one on each side of me while driving on the interstate, and both trucks simultaneously pinched my side view mirrors at the same time. A major problem is traffic lanes that are too narrow. The right lane that trucks use should be expanded in width about one foot more. I have seen some truckers wander all over the road constantly drifting over the lane dividers while driving in the right lane.