In 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced final regulations revising mandatory training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicle operators who are required to possess a commercial driver’s license. The rule originally set a February 7, 2020, date for motor carriers to develop and begin offering revised training, including a specific curriculum, led by a registered training provider, tailored to the specific license sought by the driver. The training must include a behind-the-wheel element.

In November, FMCSA announced that it was delaying the implementation date of the training requirements until February 7, 2022. The agency justified the delay on the basis that state driver’s license agencies had not been provided adequate time to update their IT systems to record training completion information. The new training requirements are mandated by federal legislation, and the delay should not be viewed as an indication that FMCSA intends to revisit or revoke the training regulations.