C.R. England Asks for Exemption from Driver-Trainer Rule
Refrigerated carrier C.R. England Inc. has asked federal regulators to exempt the company from a new requirement that truck drivers with learning permits who have passed their commercial driver license skills test be accompanied by an experienced “on-duty” driver-trainer for the drive home to pick up their CDL.
“C.R. England believes that the exemption, if granted, would allow such a driver to operate more freely and in a way that benefits the driver, the carrier and the economy as a whole,” said the exemption request, published in the Federal Register on Nov. 29.
T.J. England, the company’s vice president and general counsel, said the Salt Lake City-based carrier operates five driving schools and partners with others training thousands of drivers annually.
So getting drivers back to their home states to pick up their CDLs will be costly, nonproductive and prohibit qualified drivers to immediately gain experience and make some money, England said.
“We’re just saying that for all intents and purposes, the driver is already a CDL holder,” England told Transport Topics. “He just needs to wait in line at the DMV.”
If the two-year exemption is granted, it would allow the new drivers and trainers to perform as a team on a “revenue-producing” trip back to the new drivers’ home states to pick up their CDLs.
“C.R. England advises that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is aware of the trucking industry’s need for qualified and well-trained drivers to meet increasing shipping demands,” the company said in its exemption request. “C.R. England believes that [the new regulation] limits its ability to effectively and efficiently recruit, train and employ new entrants to the industry.”
The company said that the regulatory change, scheduled to take effect in July, will no longer allow states to routinely issue temporary CDLs to drivers who passed the CDL skills test and need to get home to pick up their CDL cards.
