FMCSA Picks Committee to Update Truck, Bus Driver Training
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the formation of a new, 26-member committee to offer guidance on training requirements for truck and bus drivers.
The Entry-Level Driver Training Advisory Committee will feed its recommendations to FMCSA prior to the agency’s publication of a proposed training rule, which is expected this fall. FMCSA also said in its Feb. 10 statement that the final rule is expected to become effective in 2016.
Larry Minor, associate FMCSA administrator for policy, will lead the committee.
The first public meeting of the committee will be Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 in Arlington, Va.
“Over the next 30 years, we’re going to be relying on trucks — and truckers — to move more than 40% more freight than they currently do,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
“With more people and freight crossing our country than ever before, this committee’s work will be critical to ensuring that commercial drivers are fully capable of operating their vehicles safely,” he added.
Among the 25 other committee members are Clyde Hart, acting FMCSA administrator during the Clinton administration and now an executive with the American Bus Association; union representation from the AFL-CIO and the Teamsters; Boyd Stephenson, a policy director for American Trucking Associations; David Heller, a policy director for the Truckload Carriers Association; two people representing owner-operators; and Louis Spoonhour, a manager for refrigerated carrier Stevens Transport.
FMCSA is producing the rule to comply with MAP-21, the federal highway-funding law passed in 2012.
