Nov. 29—For those interested in acquiring a CDL (commercial driver's license) there are slight procedural changes beginning Feb. 7.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, entry-level driver training (ELDT) is a set of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) minimum training standards for commercial driver license holders and applicants. ELDT is required for drivers applying the first time for a Class A or Class B CDL; upgrading an existing CDL (Class B CDL to Class A CDL); or adding endorsements like hazardous materials, passenger or school bus.

State driver licensing agencies will be required to verify CDL applicants' ELDT completion prior to allowing applicants to take a skills test for a Class A or Class B CDL, or a passenger or school bus endorsement, or a knowledge test prior to obtaining the hazardous materials (H) endorsement.

Effective Feb. 7, training providers will be required to upload driver training certification to the Training Provider Registry, and the Iowa DOT will be required to confirm driver applicants have met the ELDT requirements prior to administering CDL tests.

As part of the infrastructure bill approved by Congress last week, included was the Drive Safe Act. Explained by Brenda Neville, president of the Iowa Motor Truck Association, the measure is a strategy to get more, younger drivers in the industry since the country is facing a shortage of CDL drivers. In Iowa, those 18 to 21 are not allowed to drive across state borders. Neville equated the act to an apprenticeship.

"They want to drive farther than the boundaries of the state. This allows for us apprenticeship, which is no different than other trades," Neville said. "It keeps us with young drivers and that is what we need. Get these young drivers in as a career. Say they are 18, but can't drive out of state. So they become a plumber, for example, and by the time they are old enough to drive over state lines, they are already settled in a career. This is one more avenue to get new folks in the industry."

Once a driver qualifies for a commercial driver's license, they begin a two-step additional training program with performance benchmarks. Drivers must complete at least 400 hours of on-duty time and 240 hours of driving time in the cab with an experienced driver. Every driver will train on trucks equipped with safety technology.

Neville said she does not know what the criteria will be or when the program has been used enough to show any success.

"We try hard to get drivers in Iowa because of how ag based we are," she said about Iowa and hauling grain and livestock "We are optimistic this will be successful. In Iowa the average driver is 58. We have more exiting than entering.

The Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule, which will be implemented on February 7, 2022, establishes new minimum training requirements for individuals who want to:

* obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL)

* upgrade a CDL, or

* obtain a passenger (P), school bus (S) or hazardous materials (H) endorsement

Under these new requirements, an entry-level driver must successfully complete a prescribed program of theory and behind-the-wheel instruction.

Prior to taking the knowledge test or the state administered CDL skills or hazmat endorsement tests, training must be provided by an entity listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (TPR).

As of Feb. 7, 2022, entry-level CDL trainees will have much stricter requirements for obtaining their CDL.

What are the new requirements to obtain a CDL license?

* CDL school requirements: The minimum standards and requirements for CDL schools will be set at a federal level, as opposed to being set by each state.

* Department of Transportation (DOT) management: CDL schools must record and report hours behind the wheel (no federal minimum) to DOT.

* Schools must register and self-certify: Schools can self-certify instructors. Individual instructors may have to register with the DOT depending on the state.

* CDL driving instructor requirements: Driving instructors are required to have a minimum of 2 years driving experience, a clean motor vehicle record and a medical certification for classroom, on the road and private range instruction.

* Increase in curriculum mandates: DOT requires 31 theory course topics instead of the original four knowledge topics, which will be accompanied by 19 mandated behind-the-wheel (BTW) skills, that will be tested with vehicle inspection skills at the state department of motor vehicles. The new Training Provider Registry (TPR) will require CDL schools to apply to join, starting February 7, 2022.