North Dakota Presses FMCSA for CDL Training Changes

North Dakota trucking and workforce representatives met with the head of the FMCSA this week. The discussion focused on CDL training, federal regulations and the state’s need for qualified commercial drivers.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven hosted the September 3 roundtable in Fargo. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs attended alongside representatives from trucking companies, training programs and industries that depend on commercial transportation.

According to Hoeven’s official news release, participants discussed ways to recruit, train and retain commercial drivers in North Dakota.

The meeting did not produce a new federal rule or finalized funding commitment. Instead, it gave state organizations an opportunity to describe their concerns directly to FMCSA leadership.

North Dakota Raises CDL Training Concerns

The roundtable included representatives from TrainND and the North Dakota State College of Science. Both organizations provide workforce development or commercial driver education in the state.

Hoeven asked FMCSA to work with these programs as the agency reviews its Entry-Level Driver Training system. He also called for federal processes to be simplified where possible.

The senator said training organizations need to prepare qualified drivers efficiently. However, the release did not identify a specific regulation that FMCSA agreed to remove or modify.

Any formal change to federal CDL training requirements would generally require additional action from FMCSA. Depending on the change, that process could include regulatory proposals, public comments or updated agency guidance.

How Federal CDL Training Rules Work

FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training regulations establish minimum training requirements for certain new commercial drivers. The rules have applied since February 7, 2022.

According to FMCSA’s ELDT guidance, the requirements apply to people seeking to:

• Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time.
• Upgrade a Class B CDL to a Class A CDL.
• Obtain a passenger endorsement for the first time.
• Obtain a school bus endorsement for the first time.
• Obtain a hazardous materials endorsement for the first time.

Applicants covered by the rules must receive instruction from a provider listed in FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry. The registry also keeps records showing which applicants completed the required training.

The federal standards establish a common training baseline. States may have additional licensing requirements that applicants must satisfy.

Federal ELDT rules do not apply retroactively. Drivers who obtained the relevant CDL or endorsement before February 7, 2022, generally do not have to complete the training for credentials they already hold.

Agriculture and Energy Rules Enter the Discussion

The meeting also covered federal trucking requirements affecting agriculture and energy operations. Those industries are especially important in North Dakota, where trucks move crops, livestock, fuel, equipment and other products across rural areas.

Hoeven asked FMCSA to make sure its regulations account for seasonal hauling needs. He specifically raised the federal 150-air-mile agricultural exemption.

Under FMCSA’s agricultural guidance, hours-of-service requirements generally do not apply when an eligible driver transports agricultural commodities entirely within 150 air miles of the commodity’s source.

Drivers operating completely within that area generally do not have to use an ELD or maintain paper logs for the exempt movement. Once a driver travels beyond the 150-air-mile radius, federal hours-of-service rules begin to apply.

The exemption contains detailed conditions. Its availability can depend on the commodity, the source of the shipment and how the vehicle is being operated. The North Dakota release did not announce any change to the exemption.

Veterans Could Receive Additional CDL Support

Participants also discussed recruiting military veterans into trucking. Hoeven pointed to the federal Freedom Haulers initiative and existing programs that recognize military driving experience.

FMCSA currently offers several pathways intended to make the transition easier for qualified service members. These include a military skills test waiver and the Even Exchange Program.

The Even Exchange Program allows qualified military drivers in participating states to avoid the CDL knowledge test. Other military applicants may qualify to skip the driving skills test.

Eligibility is not automatic for every veteran. Applicants must have relevant military driving experience and satisfy the requirements of the program and participating state.

During the roundtable, Hoeven called for continued efforts to connect veterans with CDL training and commercial driving jobs. The announcement did not establish a new North Dakota waiver or change the state’s licensing process.

No New CDL Training Rule Was Announced

The distinction between a policy discussion and an official regulatory change is important.

Barrs heard concerns from North Dakota training providers and industries, but FMCSA did not announce a revised ELDT rule during the meeting. The agency also did not commit publicly to a new exemption or state-specific training program.

The meeting could help shape future federal decisions. However, existing CDL training, hours-of-service and licensing requirements remain in effect unless FMCSA or another authorized agency formally changes them.

Any future announcement would need to explain which drivers, schools or carriers are affected and when the changes become effective.