Entry level driver training

This poster does bring up a valid point. Depending on your state law you may have additional requirements just to teach your employees how to drive. A few states do require even company instructors to be registered with the Dept of Education or similar agency. That part I can't help with, Pennsylvania doesn't require it, so all I had to do to become listed on the Training Provider Registry for ELDT was meet the FMCSA requirements and have a complete curriculum.
You may need to verify that does not apply to your situation in your home state.

 

This is exactly why I support the third party program over the state administrators. I took my test with a third party examiner in 1992 and became a third party examiner in 93. For me to become qualified to administer the CDL exam I had to spend a week in training with PennDOT, have held my CDL for one year with a spotless driving record and be able to perform all the various versions of the exam in a variety of vehicles. I was qualified as Class A along with passenger and school bus so I had to take three different skills and road tests, plus be able to do all the variations of the skills and pre-trip inspections on each type of vehicle.

My oldest grandson's paternal grandmother worked for PennDOT as a license examiner for 25 years, just recently retiring and was qualified to administer the CDL exams without ever having a CDL. Talk about a difference in quality and experience in evaluating a driver!

It frustrates me when the third party testing program is called into question over its validity. As third party examiners we are also subject to extreme surveillance and scrutiny with random audits and undercover officers posing as applicants deliberately doing things to fail the test to see if we are paying attention. Heck, they even sit along our test route with binoculars watching to make sure we do the entire test as we should. And, I still have to maintain a near perfect driving record to stay eligible to be a third party examiner and can be recalled for a practical test at anytime. The state examiners do not have any restrictions on them that are even close.

 

If you have them do Theory online, then the curricula is very simple and you really don't need to donate any money to JJ Keller.

Here is what you have to do for Behind-the-Wheel Range and Public Road training. This is from FMCSA 380 Appendix A through E. You can essentially list this section as your curricula. Bonus is, FMCSA won't call to sell you something every 15 minutes.

 

Not exactly. That is just the areas that must be demonstrated, however if audited FMCSA is still going to want to see the curriculum used as a guide for the range and behind the wheel portions. Example, what exactly is the range instructor looking for to show the student had met the proficiency standard on the pre-trip inspection?

Yes, anyone can read the regulations and develop their own curriculum however to only instruct a few students a year it just doesn't make sense to spend a hunded hours or more to develop something you can buy for less than $200.

Believe me, I don't want to give JJ Keller any more money or publicity, but they do have a good, simple solution to the ELDT regulations.

 

You can blame Illinois government for that.. they more than anyone wrecked the third party system. I wasn't the third party testers or the examiners really.