Upcoming Trucking Rules and Regulations for Truck Drivers

Trucking regulations are frequently updated every year or two. Ongoing governmental efforts to keep CDL drivers and other motorists safe mean that rules regarding safety and compliance are critical to staying safe on the road. Below are some things you need to know for 2022.

What are the new FMCSA regulations?

Starting on February 7, 2022, the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule went into effect. The ELDT rule applies to applicants who want to obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrade from a Class B to Class A CDL, or obtain a new school bus (S), passenger transport (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement. This new rule means that new drivers, or drivers getting a new endorsement, will be required to get training from an approved provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. The training must be completed before taking a CDL skills test or an endorsement knowledge test.

What is changing for truck drivers?

If you already have your Class A or Class B CDL and do not want to obtain a new endorsement or upgrade your CDL, then the new ELDT rule does not affect you at all.

If you’re considering getting a CDL for the first time, upgrading your CDL, or getting a new endorsement for passengers, school bus, or hazardous materials, then you must train under an approved provider prior to taking your tests.

What is the 70 hour rule in trucking?

There are many rules and regulations from FMCSA that govern how many hours a driver can drive. There are daily rules, and weekly rules. The 70-hour rule is a weekly rule. It says that a driver cannot drive after having been in an on-duty status for 70 hours in any eight consecutive days.

A driver can, but does not have to, “reset” the clock by taking a 34-hour reset. This is just 34 consecutive hours where the driver is either off-duty or in the sleeper berth.

This rule remains unchanged in 2022.

How many hours can a local CDL driver work?

The rules governing local CDL drivers are slightly different from the rules for long-haul truckers. As long as the driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and the driver does not exceed 14 hours of on-duty time, they are exempt from the regular Hours of Service rules and can report daily hours instead of regular driver logs. If you have questions about these rules, consult your employer or use the FMCSA website to get clarity and make sure that you are following all applicable regulations.

This rule also remains unchanged in 2022.

Not much is changing for drivers who already have a Class A CDL and all of the endorsements they want. The rule changes are for new drivers and those expanding their job opportunities by adding endorsements to their CDLs. It is always good to keep up with the ever-changing rules for truck drivers so you can stay safe and compliant.