No Shortcut for Novice: Truck Instructor Exemption Denied
Published Date: 4/28/2025
Notice
Summary
The FMCSA said no to Albert Farley, Jr.'s request to skip the two-year driving experience rule for becoming a truck driving instructor. This means all new instructors still need at least two years of experience driving the same type of big rig they’ll teach about. The decision keeps training safe and fair for future truck drivers, with no changes to costs or timing.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Two-Year Instructor Experience Rule Stays
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) denied Albert Farley, Jr.'s request to be exempted from the entry-level driver training (ELDT) instructor rule. That means ELDT instructors must still have at least two years of driving experience in the same or higher class and/or the same endorsement level as the commercial motor vehicle they will teach (the denial applied to serving as a Class A CDL instructor). FMCSA concluded granting the exemption would not provide an equivalent level of safety.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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