ELDT Mandates & The Trucking Industry
The new ELDT mandates that were put in affect February 7, 2022, were set up by the FMCSA in an effort to make the roads a little safer. These mandates are a set of federal minimum standards for training new drivers.
The training involved includes both theory and behind the wheel requirements to complete and move on to getting a CDL. These mandates are in place to complete:
- Class A CDL
- Class B CDL
- Upgrade from Class B to Class A
- Hazardous Material (H), Passenger (P), or School (S) Endorsements
And they affect all new drivers who did not have their licenses before this went in affect.
How Does ELDT Affect New Drivers?
These mandates have many people in the trucking industry concerned, and there are many rumors floating around about how ELDT will affect driver training.
One such concern is that ELDT requirements will make training take longer to complete. There are no requirements for a minimum number of hours for training though. The only requirement is to complete all the topics involved, so you can complete this training on whatever timeframe works best for you.
As long as you use an organization on the Training Provider Registry, you can even complete the theory portion of your training online, meaning you can complete this training in a fraction of the time it takes for in-person training.
There are 31 theory course topics and 19 behind the wheel topics required to complete CDL training. These topics covers areas on basic operation, safe operating procedures, advanced operation procedures, vehicle systems and reporting malfunctions, and non-driving activities. Only new drivers who do not already hold a CDL or endorsement are required to complete this training.
Where Can You Go to Complete Training?
All organizations offering entry-level training are required to register with FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry to meet the ELDT mandates. This includes schools, fleets providing internal training, or online programs. Fleets providing internal training can also use an organization registered for the theory portion and provide internal behind the wheel training.
Where you go to complete required CDL and endorsement training depends on your needs. To determine the best option for your needs, start with five basic questions:
- How quickly can I complete the training using this material?
- How easy is it to set up my training schedule?
- How easy is it to send my completed training to the FMCSA registry?
- Can I track my progress with this program?
- What fees are involved with the training?
Pick a program that will make training as simple as possible for you. For instance, We Are ELDT.com, powered by Vertical Alliance Group, has individual and group ELDT theory curriculum options for online training. Using our system, you can let us take care of all reporting requirements, so you never miss a deadline with the FMCSA.
Is We Are ELDT.com Right for You?
If you are looking for a good ELDT theory program that is easy to set up, complete training, and track progress, We Are ELDT.com is a good choice for you.
Our online theory training means you can complete all ELDT mandates on your own schedule. All training progress is documented and easy to access whenever you need it. We can easily report your completed training.
Do you want more information about our individual or group ELDT packages? You can check it out here.
