Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulatory updates

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This page provides the following updates about Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations that may affect Commercial Driver License (CDL) operators and commercial driving organizations in Wisconsin.

​Please contact FMCSA for more information or questions regarding the federal regulations listed.

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

Beginning February 7, 2022, the following applicants are required to successfully complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) prior to being eligible for CDL skills testing. Entry Level Driver Training includes theory and behind-the-wheel (BTW) instruction at a training provider/training entity listed on the Federal Motor Carrier ​Training Provider Registry.

What is an Entry Level Driver Training Provider and where can I find one?

Training providers include, but are not limited to, training schools, educational institutions, rural electric cooperatives, motor carriers, State/local governments, school districts, joint labor management programs, owner-operators and individuals. Most employers who train their own employees will be part of the program. Please check with your employer or contact a registered training provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.​

Which drivers are exempt from ELDT?​

  1. Drivers exempted (under §383.3(c), (d), and (h)) include:
    1. Certain military drivers
    2. Farmers, firefighters, emergency response vehicle drivers, and drivers removing snow and ice
    3. Drivers of “covered farm vehicles"
    4. Restricted commercial driver’s license (CDL) for certain drivers in the State of Alaska
    5. Restricted CDL for certain drivers in farm-related service industries
    6. Restricted CDL for certain drivers in the pyrotechnic industry
    7. ​Drivers skill testing to remove an 'L – No Full Air Brake Equip CMV' Restriction
    8. Drivers skill testing to remove an 'E – No Manual Trans Equip CMV' Restriction
    9. Drivers skill testing to remove an 'O – No Tractor-Trailer CMV' Restriction
  2. Drivers issued a Class A CDL, Class B CDL, or a passenger (P), school bus (S), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement before February 7, 2022​

Steps to be registered with FMCSA as an ELDT provider:

  1. Companies and individuals wishing to train new commercial drivers for subsequent skills testing will be required to become an Entry Level Driver Training Provider and will be required to electronically transmit an Entry-Level Driver Training Provider Registration form through the FMCSA Training Provider Registry web site maintained by FMCSA, which attests that the training provider meets all the applicable requirements to obtain a unique TPR number.
  2. If a training provider has more than one campus or training location, the training provider must electronically transmit an Entry-Level Driver Training Provider Registration form for each campus or training location in order to obtain a unique TPR number for each location.

Note: When a provider meets the requirements of §§380.703 and 380.707, FMCSA will issue the provider a unique TPR number and, as applicable, add the provider's name and/or contact information to the TPR website.

ELDT regulation

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) established the Commercial Driver License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). This database contains information pertaining to violations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) controlled substances (drug) and alcohol testing program for holders of CDLs.

The Clearinghouse rule requires FMCSA-regulated employers, medical review officers (MROs), substance abuse professionals (SAPs), consortia/third party administrators (C/TPAs) and other service agents to report to the Clearinghouse information related to violations of the drug and alcohol regulations in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 40 and 382, by current and prospective employees.

The Clearinghouse final rule requires the following:

  • ​Employers must query the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees' drug and alcohol violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public roads.
  • Employers must annually query the Clearinghouse for each driver they currently employ.

Compliance date - January 6, 2020

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse resources

FMCSA contact information

Additional FMCSA contact information and resources