The FMCSA has granted an exemption that will allow C.R. England commercial learner’s permit holders to drive without a CDL holder accompanying them in the front seat.
C.R. England applied for the exemption as a way to combat the driver shortage. For the next two years, as long as a student has a commercial learner’s permit and has passed a CDL skills test, he or she is allowed to drive team for C.R. England with a driver trainer who is not required to be in the front seat.
C.R. England says that the exemption will allow them to run team operations until the student can make it to his or her home state to receive a temporary CDL. According to a statement from the FMCSA, C.R. England says that the exemption will “allow these drivers to operate in a way that benefits the driver, the carrier, and the economy as a whole without any detriment to safety.”
OOIDA has spoken out against the exemption, saying that it is a step back and that it will require additional training for law enforcement.
[su_document url=”http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-06-11/pdf/2015-14276.pdf” width=”700″]
Sources:
Commercial Carrier Journal
Fleet Owner
FMCSA