What are the new CDL requirements and when do they take affect?

New CDL Training Requirements Become Effective in February 2022

The Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) final rule of December 2016 established a Federal standard for mandatory training of entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles.  Beginning February 7, 2022, CDL applicants will be required to complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on the new Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

About the ELDT Regulations

FMCSA’s Entry Level Driver Training regulations set the baseline for training requirements for entry-level drivers.  This includes those applying to:

  • Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;
  • Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL; or
  • Obtain a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

The ELDT regulations are not retroactive; the entry-level driver training requirements do not apply to individuals holding a valid CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement issued prior to February 7, 2022. 

About the Training Provider Registry

When fully operational, the FMCSA Training Provider Registry will retain a record of which CDL applicants have completed the new training and certification process outlined in the Entry-Level Driver Training regulations.

Providers must register with FMCSA via the Training Provider Registry to be included on the public list of training providers when it goes live later this year.  Training providers must also register to electronically submit a driver’s certification of successful completion of training, as required by the ELDT regulations.

Additional Information

The ELDT regulations and the Training Provider Registry were mandated under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).  The ELDT final rule was based, in part, on consensus recommendations from the Agency’s Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee (ELDTAC), a negotiated rulemaking committee that held a series of meetings in 2015.

The following FMCSA links are provided for additional information.