Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) is the FMCSA requirement that new commercial drivers complete a standard curriculum of theory and behind-the-wheel training from a registered provider before they can test for certain CDLs and endorsements. The rules in 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F took effect February 7, 2022. They set a national baseline so that every new Class A or Class B driver, and every first-time passenger, school bus or hazmat endorsement holder, has been trained to the same minimum standard.

ELDT matters to motor carriers in two ways. Carriers that hire new drivers need to know whether a candidate has completed the training, and carriers that run in-house driver programs can become registered training providers themselves, taking on the provider's obligations.

What Is ELDT?

The ELDT rule was required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and was developed partly through a negotiated rulemaking committee that met in 2015. FMCSA published the final rule in December 2016 with a compliance date of February 7, 2022.

The requirements live in 49 CFR Part 380, summarized on FMCSA's ELDT requirements page:

• Subpart F (380.600 to 380.609): who must complete training and what they must complete
• Subpart G (380.700 to 380.725): the Training Provider Registry and the standards providers must meet
• Appendices A to E: the required curricula for Class A, Class B, passenger, school bus and hazardous materials training

Key definitions (380.605)

• Entry-level driver: a person who must take the CDL skills test before first receiving a CDL, upgrading to Class A or B, or first obtaining a hazmat, passenger or school bus endorsement.
• Theory instruction: knowledge training delivered by lecture, demonstration, audio-visual material, online training, simulators or similar methods.
• Behind-the-wheel (BTW) training: training where the driver has actual control of the power unit, either on a range or on a public road. Time spent watching another driver does not count.
• Training provider: an entity listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (TPR). Schools, motor carriers, school districts, government agencies, joint labor-management programs, owner-operators and individuals can all register.

Who Must Comply?

Under 380.609, ELDT applies to a person who is:

• Applying for a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time
• Upgrading a Class B CDL to a Class A CDL
• Applying for a passenger (P), school bus (S) or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time

The rules cover drivers in both interstate and intrastate commerce. Class C licenses are not covered unless the driver seeks a P, S or H endorsement.

Exceptions (380.603)

• Not retroactive: anyone issued a Class A or B CDL, or a P, S or H endorsement, before February 7, 2022 does not need training for that license or endorsement.
• Earlier CLPs: a person who obtained a commercial learner's permit before February 7, 2022 is exempt if the CDL is obtained before that CLP, or its renewal, expires.
• CDL exceptions: drivers excepted from CDL requirements under 383.3(c), (d) or (h), applicants for restricted CDLs under 383.3(e) to (g), military drivers who qualify for the skills test waiver in 383.77 and drivers removing a restriction under 383.135(b)(7).

Key Requirements

Training by license and endorsement

• Class A and Class B: theory instruction plus BTW training on both a range and a public road. Class B holders upgrading to Class A follow a shorter theory curriculum, added in 2019, but must complete the full Class A BTW curriculum.
• Passenger and school bus endorsements: theory instruction plus BTW training on a range or public road, in a vehicle of the same group the driver intends to drive.
• Hazmat endorsement: theory instruction only, completed before the H knowledge test.

Theory instruction

There is no minimum number of theory hours. Providers must cover every topic in the applicable curriculum, and the driver must score at least 80 percent overall on a written assessment. Theory may be taught in person or online, and theory and BTW training may come from different registered providers.

Behind-the-wheel training

There is no federal minimum number of BTW hours. The instructor decides when the driver has demonstrated proficiency in every required skill, and the provider records the total clock hours spent. Simulators may be used in theory training but cannot replace BTW training. States may set additional requirements, including minimum BTW hours.

Timing

Training must be completed before the test it unlocks: before the Class A or B skills test, before the P or S skills test and before the H knowledge test. Theory is not required before a CLP is issued. Under 380.603(c)(3), except for hazmat training, the remaining portions of training must generally be completed within one year of completing the first portion.

Training Provider Registry and Records

Certification

When a driver finishes training, the provider must submit the training certification to FMCSA through the Training Provider Registry by midnight of the second business day after completion. The state driver licensing agency must confirm ELDT completion in the TPR before it administers the relevant test. Drivers can check their own record on the TPR website.

Provider requirements

To be listed, a provider must certify that it meets Subpart G standards for curriculum, facilities, vehicles, instructors and assessments. Theory and BTW instructors must hold a CDL of the appropriate class with any required endorsements and have at least 2 years of experience driving a CMV of that class or as a BTW instructor, plus meet any state requirements. A BTW instructor whose CDL was disqualified for an offense under 383.51 cannot give BTW instruction for 2 years after reinstatement. FMCSA can remove providers that do not meet the standards. The TPR site lists removed locations and has sent inactivity notices to providers that submitted no certifications for 12 months.

Recordkeeping

Providers must keep training records for at least 3 years, including driver self-certifications, copies of trainees' CLPs or CDLs, instructor qualification records, lesson plans and assessment results. Carriers that hire newly licensed drivers should keep evidence of ELDT completion with their hiring records, though Part 380 places the core recordkeeping duty on the provider.

Common Compliance Mistakes

• Using an unregistered program. In-house training that is not on the TPR does not satisfy ELDT, no matter how thorough it is.
• Late certification uploads. Missing the two-business-day deadline delays the driver's testing.
• Assuming hours equal proficiency. The rule is proficiency-based, and BTW clock hours must still be documented.
• Unqualified instructors. Instructors without the 2 years of required experience, or with a recent disqualification, cannot teach BTW.
• Forgetting the Class B to A upgrade. Experienced Class B drivers still need Class A training before upgrading.
• Letting the one-year window lapse. Drivers who finish theory but delay BTW risk having to restart.

The main consequence for providers that fail to meet the standards is removal from the TPR, which means their certifications no longer qualify drivers to test. See FMCSA's ELDT overview for current program information.

How to Comply: Step by Step

For carriers hiring new drivers:

1. Screen license history. Confirm when the CDL and endorsements were issued, since anything before February 7, 2022 is exempt.
2. Confirm training completion. Ask candidates for proof from the TPR and keep it with hiring records.
3. Plan endorsement training. Before assigning hazmat, passenger or school bus work, make sure the driver has the endorsement and completed the required training.

For carriers running their own training program:

1. Register on the TPR. Register each training location and keep the listing current.
2. Build the curriculum. Cover every topic in Appendices A to E for the classes and endorsements you teach.
3. Qualify instructors. Verify CDL class, endorsements, 2 years of experience and any state requirements.
4. Assess and certify. Score theory assessments, document BTW proficiency and clock hours, and upload certifications by midnight of the second business day.
5. Retain records for 3 years. Keep trainee, instructor, lesson plan and assessment records ready for FMCSA review and internal audits.

How SMS360 Helps

ELDT links training to licensing, so it belongs in the same record as a driver's qualification documents. The SMS360 Driver Qualification Files module lets fleets store proof of ELDT completion with each driver's driver qualification file, track license and endorsement details and set reminders for related deadlines. Carriers that train in-house can keep instructor qualifications, lesson plans and assessments organized for review. For the licensing rules that ELDT feeds into, see our page on CDL requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs entry-level driver training?

Anyone applying for a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or seeking a passenger, school bus or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time. People who received that license or endorsement before February 7, 2022 do not need training for it.

How many hours of training does ELDT require?

Federal rules set no minimum hours for theory or behind-the-wheel training. Drivers must score at least 80 percent on the theory assessment and demonstrate proficiency in every BTW skill to the instructor's satisfaction. States may set their own minimum hours.

Does hazmat endorsement training include behind-the-wheel?

No. The hazmat (H) endorsement requires theory instruction only, and it must be completed and recorded in the Training Provider Registry before the driver takes the H knowledge test. Passenger and school bus endorsements require both theory and behind-the-wheel training.

Can a trucking company provide its own ELDT?

Yes. Motor carriers can register on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry and train their own drivers, as long as they meet the curriculum, instructor, facility, vehicle and recordkeeping standards in Subpart G and submit certifications by midnight of the second business day after training.