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Arlington, Va. – Today, the �Ӱɴ�ý praised the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for issuing a skills-based entry-level driver training rule.

“�Ӱɴ�ý has consistently advocated that skills, not simply time spent in a classroom or behind the wheel, should be the deciding factor if a student should be allowed to take a commercial driver’s license test,” said �Ӱɴ�ý Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan. “Today’s rule is a victory for common sense and for safety.”

FMCSA’s final rule requires that student drivers spend time both in the classroom and behind the wheel on a driving course and on public roads, and that they must demonstrate proficiency in both portions of their training before advancing to take the CDL test.

“�Ӱɴ�ý participated in FMCSA’s negotiated rulemaking process, and we have been pleased with how the agency outlined the skills and knowledge students must have,” said �Ӱɴ�ý Director of Safety Policy P. Sean Garney. “At the conclusion of the negotiation, �Ӱɴ�ý expressed our disappointment the agency appeared poised to go with an hours-based training regimen, but we were pleased and surprised to see they eschewed an arbitrary hours threshold in favor of a skills-based standard.”

Under the rule, training programs and schools must self-certify to FMCSA that their curricula meet all the requirements of the rule. The compliance date for the rule is February 7, 2020.

�Ӱɴ�ý is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, �Ӱɴ�ý is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow �Ӱɴ�ý on ���ǰ���.��

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