Instructional Technologies, Inc. (ITI) announced the launch of On Ramp ELDT (entry-level driver training), an online training, testing, and recordkeeping platform to assist CDL schools with the new federal requirements for entry-level driver training (ELDT). These requirements will take effect on February 7, 2020.
Currently, the requirements for CDL training and testing vary from state to state. The new federal requirements call for every state, and both public and private CDL schools to adhere to these guidelines. At this time, only four knowledge topics are required to be taught and tested—hours of service, driver qualifications and disqualifications, driver health and wellness, and whistleblower protection.
“What had been recognized in the market, and also with public pressure, is that just simply wasn’t enough for a professional driver in terms of what they need to know to operate safely [and] legally on America’s roadways,” says Laura McMillan, vice president of training development, ITI.
The new federal requirements call for 31 theory course topics and 19 behind the wheel (BTW) skills to be taught. Students must pass the theory assessment with at least an 80 percent and be able to proficiently demonstrate the BTW driving skills. On top of this, CDL schools must record and report BTW hours, but there is no federal minimum on BTW hours needed.
Additionally, the requirements for instructors are changing as well. As with the CDL training and testing, instructor qualifications currently vary from state to state.
“The minimum qualifications—there’s a time basis to this minimum, it’s two years of actual driving in the equipment that the student is being tested for, as well as they need to have a clean motor vehicle record (MVR) and a clean med cert [federal medical] card,” says McMillan.
With all these changes coming, ITI’s On Ramp ELDT is designed to assist CDL schools with the preparation and management of CDL testing and training. On Ramp meets all 31 required theory and testing core curriculum areas and allows students 24/7 access to training.
Additionally, On Ramp offers group training modules which allow instructors to lead group discussions exploring real-world situations, answer questions, and cement the topics covered in that lesson in the students’ minds.
On Ramp also includes Sentix ELDT, a custom-built learning management system (LMS) made to help CDL schools meet the new federal requirements for training and testing. From collecting the information of registered students to logging BTW hours, the LMS keeps track of student records throughout their CDL training and sends the student completion data to the DOT’s Training Provider Registry (TPR).
“We do expect with this change that…the players in the CDL market will rise to the top that are looking out ahead of these regulations and getting prepared to adopt them and engage students in a new curriculum,” remarks McMillan, “and we expect to be right there backing them up with our programming to make that transition as easy as possible.”
