Team Safe Announces New Training Program

Team Safe Trucking, a provider of training solutions for the forestry transportation, has released the name of its new training program for drivers wanting to obtain a CDL specifically to drive forest products following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s announcement of new requirements for CDL students. The Team Safe Trucking Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) will be fully operational by February 2020 for state, public and private CDL schools.

The new ELDT rules include setting minimum standards for CDL schools, so instead of being determined state by state, the minimum standards will now be set at the federal level. Schools must record and report hours spent behind the wheel to the DOT even though there is no federal minimum, and will be required to register and self-certify. Individual instructors do not have to register with the DOT, however, some states will require them to be registered. Instructors are now required to have a minimum two years of driving experience, a clean MVR and a medical certification for classroom, on the road and private range instruction. There will now be 31 theory course topics compared to the four knowledge topics previously required by the DOT. These course topics will be joined by 19 behind the wheel skills now mandated and will be tested along with vehicle inspection skills at the state DMV. Currently, any organization that meets state’s requirements can be a training provider. Starting in February 2020, a new Training Provider Registry (TPR) will come into effect with CDL schools having to apply to join.

With Team Safe Trucking’s ELDT, students will have 24/7 access to Team Safe Trucking’s ELDT Theory Provider Program as well as its instructor led trainings. By adopting the TalentLMS training platform designed to meet the needs of schools, Team Safe Trucking makes it easier for CDL schools to meet the requirements of the new ELDT mandate. This new design collects information of registered students, including all data required by the mandate.

Additionally, Team Safe Trucking is looking into adding a section where behind the wheel training providers for the industry can logs behind the wheel hours from individual driver-trainees, and automatically send student completion data, including proficiency scores, to the TPR.

The program is seen as a way for the industry to meet the FMCSA ELDT training regulations and save the industry financial resources in training new CDL drivers. Supporters believe it may help attract more young people to the forest products transportation industry that prefer learning using technology and apps.