FMCSA Training Requirements

Ensuring the safety and compliance of commercial motor vehicles is a top priority for both employers and drivers. From supervisor training for reasonable suspicion testing to the latest statistics from the CVSA Roadcheck, staying informed about regulations and best practices is essential. In this Safety Bulletin, we'll delve into the key training requirements for supervisors and drivers, as well as the outcomes of the recent Roadcheck conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Let's explore the latest developments in the world of commercial motor vehicle safety and compliance.

In this issue:

• Who is subject to the Supervisor Training for Reasonable Suspicion Testing?
• Are There Any Training Requirements in the Regulations Specific to Drivers?
• CVSA Roadcheck Places 23% of Vehicles Out of Service
• Registration Open for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!

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Some consulting firms are sending emails regarding the requirement for supervisors of CDL drivers to undergo training in Drug and Alcohol Reasonable Suspicion Testing. These emails are designed to create a sense of urgency and may prompt you to purchase supervisor training courses and webinars. While it is true that supervisors must meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements, it is important to note that FMCSA provides this training at no cost.

It is essential for all motor carriers, both intrastate and interstate, to ensure that their supervisors of CDL drivers receive the necessary training. Let’s review the regulations about the training of supervisors of CDL drivers.

Who is Subject to the Supervisor Training for Reasonable Suspicion Testing?

CFR 382.603

Training for Supervisors
Employers must ensure that all supervisors of commercial truck drivers receive 60 minutes of training on alcohol misuse and an additional 60 minutes of training on the use of controlled substances. This training will help supervisors identify signs of alcohol misuse and controlled substance use, such as changes in behavior, speech, and performance. Supervisors do not need to undergo recurrent training.

So where can I get training?

You can download free supervisor training in video format from the FMCSA website. To access it, go to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Supervisor Training Guidance page and click on the Reasonable Suspicion Training link at the bottom of the page. The download may take some time due to the video’s length and quality options. You can also check with your D&A third-party administrator to see if they provide the training.

Are there any training requirements in the regulations specific to drivers?

Outside of the hazardous materials training requirements for drivers, the following regulation applies to all CDL drivers:

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT)

The ELDT minimum training standards apply to both interstate and intrastate drivers who are getting their commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the first time, upgrading their current CDL, or getting a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for the first time. The training includes both classroom learning and hands-on driving practice. This regulation came into effect on February 7, 2022.

CVSA Roadcheck Places 23% of Vehicles Out of Service

The 2024 Roadcheck by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance occurred from May 14-16. Commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. conducted 48,761 inspections during this time. The results showed that 77% of commercial motor vehicles and 95.2% of commercial motor vehicle drivers had no out-of-service violations.

However, inspectors found 13,567 vehicle violations, 2,714 driver violations, and 163 hazardous materials/dangerous goods violations, which led to 9,345 commercial motor vehicle combinations and 2,290 drivers being placed out of service. The overall vehicle out-of-service rate was 23%, while the driver out-of-service rate was 4.8%.

The top vehicle out-of-service violation was defective service brakes at 25%, followed by tire violations at 20.8%, other brake violations at 18.3%, lights at 11.6%, and cargo securement at 9.6%.

The top driver out-of-service violations included hours of service at 32.1%, no license/CDL at 25.4%, no medical card at 11.2%, false logs at 10.9%, and suspended license/CDL at 5.1%.

Additionally, 535 safety belt violations were year’s during this year’s Roadcheck, highlighting that 14% of commercial motor vehicle drivers do not wear their safety belts, according to the FMCSA.

Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in 2024. The one-day seminar this year will focus on data available from trucks today with regards to safety, basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars and will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice an

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