Posted June 11, 2020
Driver training schools providing entry-level driver training (ELDT) as of February 7, 2022, will likely be able to access the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR) first in Summer 2021.
Summer 2021 is FMCSA’s new target date for releasing the TPR, an online portal for:
- Prospective training providers to register — self-certifying that they meet all of the requirements;
- Entry-level drivers to search for a certified training provider;
- Registered training providers to submit driver certification information after an entry-level driver completes training; and
- State driver licensing agencies, which will use the data from the TPR to verify an entry-level driver’s completion of required training before administering tests.
Assuming the TPR is running by next summer, training providers will have about six to nine months to complete the online registration application. This application is necessary for the provider to be listed on the TPR prior to the February 7, 2022, compliance date.
Entry-level drivers and motor carriers that assist entry-level drivers in obtaining their commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) will be able to search the TPR for training providers before the February 7, 2022, compliance date.
The ELDT rule, released in December 2016, requires instruction on a variety of theory and behind-the-wheel training topics. The training entity must meet requirements related to curriculum, facilities, equipment, and instructor credentials, and be listed on FMCSA’s TPR.
Commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders must successfully complete this training and provide proof of completion before taking the skills test to obtain a CDL. The rule also includes requirements for those obtaining a passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement.
