CDL Requirements

Since February 7, 2022, cities have had and will continue to have a far more difficult time securing licensing for entry-level CDL drivers.

The federal government changed baseline training requirements for entry-level drivers seeking to:

• Obtain a Class A or Class B CDL license for the first time;
• Upgrade an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL; or
• Obtain a school bus (S), Passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.

Some measure of relief may be found in the fact that the government did not make Entry-Level Driving Training (ELDT) regulations retroactive. This means that individuals issued a CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement before February 7, 2022, are not required to complete training for the applicable CDLs or the relevant endorsements.

Additionally, an applicant who obtained a commercial learner’s permit before February 7, 2022, and received their CDL before the permit expired is not subject to the new ELDT requirements.

Finally, any individual meeting an exception for taking a skills test in 49 CFR Part 383 is exempt from the new ELDT requirements.

You can find more specifics on the new requirements at the Training Provider Registry. You can also locate a certified training provider for the new ELDT requirements from the registry. Only a certified training provider can offer the new training.

From the initial conversations with cities impacted by this rule, the training is a few thousand dollars more than in the past. Commercial drivers are in great demand, leading city officials to fear that they may pay for the training only to have the employee quickly move on to another job.

To alleviate some of this fear, KLC has a training contract template for training reimbursement should an employee leave city service within a time frame set by the city after the employee receives training. It is important that you discuss the specifics of such a contract with your city attorney before executing this or any contract on behalf of the city. Please contact Chris Johnson, KLC municipal law attorney, for a copy of the training contract template.