NTSB Number: SS-86/02
NTIS Number: PB86-917002

The study stresses the need for formal training to ensure that a driver has the skills necessary for safe operation of a truck. Many drivers receive no formal training. Of those who do, many are still not properly prepared, because there is no system to evaluate the instruction at all schools, and there are no widely recognized minimum school standards. The Department of Transportation recently published proposed minimum standards against which all truck driver training schools could be measured, but those standards cannot be used for that purpose until their validity has been tested with actual schools and students. The Safety Board urges that such field testing start as soon as possible. Once properly validated standards are available, the Board believes a system should be adopted for using them to assess school courses of study and for directing prospective students to those schools that measure up favorably.

Substantially upgrading the instruction offered by training schools cannot be expected to improve truck safety if sufficient incentives remain lacking for truck drivers to attend those schools. The Safety Board has therefore determined that a requirement of formal training should be established for truck drivers. That requirement should stipulate not only that prospective truck drivers obtain instruction, but also that they demonstrate before graduating that they have mastered the skills being taught.

Interstate truck drivers are required to meet qualifications contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. There are regulations as well concerning motor carriers' practices in hiring drivers. The Safety Board has reviewed these regulations, pointing out loopholes and inconsistencies and suggesting ways to change the rules accordingly.

In its review of State driver licensing practices, the Safety Board found that all States require license applicants to take a road test, but, in 19 States and the District of Columbia, the applicant is not required to demonstrate proficiency in the type of vehicle he or she intends to drive. Thus, a person could take a road test in a small sedan, obtain a license, and then legally use that license for driving a tractor-semitrailer. Thirty-one States issue licenses corresponding to specific classes of vehicles with the classifications usually determined by such factors as vehicle weight or number of axles. In a "classified licensing system," which the Safety Board endorses, applicants are given a road test in the type of vehicle specified in the license being sought.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Legislation is pending in Congress to establish a National Driver License Program commercial drivers. The Safety Board supports that concept and believes that under such a program:

1) State agencies should test applicants' knowledge and performance, and check their qualifications, using uniform standards and test procedures developed by the Department of Transportation. A requirement for formal training should be included in the prerequisites for obtaining a national license.

2) The functions of issuing the national license, maintaining driver records, and suspending and revoking licenses should be shared by Federal and state authorities, according to a plan developed by the Department of Transportation.

3) Applicants for the National Driver License should be required to surrender previously issued state driver licenses. Once a driver would be issued a national license, all traffic violations, regardless of vehicle driven, should be recorded in a single corresponding file.

4) A recordkeeping system should be developed for those files, identifying all license holders, so that no commercial driver could obtain more than one license.

Therefore, the National Transportation Safety Board made the following recommendations:

to the Secretary of Transportation:

Develop a program under which State and Federal authorities would jointly administer a National Driver License for commercial truck drivers. Such a program should implement the one-license/one-record concept, and a system should be developed that will keep track of the records of all individuals holding a National Driver License. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-8)

Develop uniform licensing criteria, a set of uniform performance and knowledge test procedures, and a driver's manual for use by State agencies in a National Driver License program for commercial truck drivers. The criteria should be derived from the driver qualification standards of Part 391 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and should also include formal training as a prerequisite for licensure. The test procedures should be based on a classified licensing system, with separate licenses or license endorsements for individuals transporting hazardous materials or driving vehicles with special handling characteristics. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-9)

to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators:

Develop recommendations on how a National Driver License for commercial truck drivers could be administered jointly by State and Federal authorities, and submit these recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-10)

Urge all States to implement the Rapid Response System of the National Driver Register (NDR) as soon as feasible, both to obtain prompter access to NDR records and to prepare for use of the Problem Driver Pointer System when it becomes available. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-11)

to the American Insurance Association, the Alliance of American Insurers, the
Association of Independent Insurers, and the Insurance Services Office, Inc.:

Undertake a program encouraging member companies to offer financial incentives such as reduced premiums to motor carrier policy holders whose drivers have received formal training. Once the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers have been validated, stipulate that the training be conducted in programs that meet the standards. Encourage member companies to offer similar incentives for drivers who have participated in apprenticeship programs once such programs become available. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-12)

to the Canal Insurance Company and American International Group Transport, Inc.:

Undertake a program to offer financial incentives such as reduced premiums to motor carrier policy holders whose drivers have received formal training. Once the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers have been validated, stipulate that the training be conducted in programs that meet the standards. Offer similar incentives for drivers who have participated in apprenticeship programs once such programs become available. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-13)

to the Professional Truck Driver Institute of the Trucking Industry Alliance:

Compile and submit to the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety (BMCS) the views of members of the trucking and truck driver training industries concerning any needed revisions in the BMCS Proposed Minimum Standards and Model Curriculum for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-14)

Develop a program for evaluating truck driver training schools, using the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards as criteria, once the standards have been validated. Such a program could be established in coordination with the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools and the National Home Study Council (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-15)

Work with the National Safety Council to develop a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career in commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training, and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school. The program also should inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-16)

to the National Safety Council:

Coordinate development of a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career in commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school. The program should also inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-17)

to the American Trucking Associations, Inc.:

Work with the National Safety Council to develop a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career in commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training, and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school. The program also should inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-18)

In cooperation with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, develop guidelines and requirements for an apprenticeship training program for commercial truck drivers. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-19)

Undertake a program urging member companies to hire only drivers who have received formal truck driver training. Once the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers have been validated, stipulate that only drivers who have graduated from schools that have met the criteria established by those standards should be hired. The program also should encourage member firms to participate in apprenticeship training programs. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-20)

to the Private Truck Council of America, Inc.:

Work with the National Safety Council to develop a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career in commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training, and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school The program also should inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-21)

Undertake a program urging member companies to hire only drivers who have received formal truck driver training. Once the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers have been validated, stipulate that only drivers who have graduated from schools that have met the criteria established by those standards should be hired. The program also should encourage member firms to participate in apprenticeship training programs. (Class a. Priority Action) (H-86-22)

to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association of America and the
National Association of Truck Driving Schools:

Work with the National Safety Council to develop a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career in commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training, and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school The program also should inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-23)

to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters:

Work with the National Safety Council-to develop a guidance program designed to reach as many people as possible who are considering a career In commercial truck driving. The program should explain the considerations in such a vocational choice, the value of formal training, and the factors to consider in selecting a truck driver training school. The program also should inform prospective students about which schools have met the criteria established by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Minimum Standards. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-24)

In cooperation with the American Trucking Associations, Inc., develop guidelines and requirements for an apprenticeship training program for commercial truck drivers. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-25)

to the United States Department of Labor:

Draft and issue national standards for apprenticeship programs in commercial truck driving, and include commercial truck driving in the Department of Labor's list of Occupations Recognized as Apprenticeable. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-26)

to the Federal Highway Administration:

Expedite development of a battery of knowledge test questions and performance test procedures, based on the Model Curriculum of the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers, and begin as soon as possible the validation study and cost/benefit analysis of the Proposed Standards and Model Curriculum. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-27)

Undertake a program urging all States to impose licensing requirements on the truck driver training schools in their jurisdictions, and, once the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers have been validated, urge all States to adopt these standards in evaluating truck driver training schools when they apply for State licensure. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-28)

Develop a program for evaluating truck driver training schools, using the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety Proposed Minimum Standards, once they have been validated. If the Professional Truck Driver Institute of the Trucking Industry Alliance, or another body, is designated to perform this evaluation function, provide advice and support to that organization. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-29)

Eliminate the exemption from Part 391 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations granted to commercial drivers who work exclusively within a single city or commercial zone. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-30)

Clarify the purpose and procedures of the annual review of employee drivers' traffic records, which Section 391.25 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires of motor carriers. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-31)

Stipulate in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that no driver may screen his or her own driving record In the annual review required by the regulations. Designate an impartial source to which commercial truck drivers who work independently must turn for the annual review. This same source should administer the required road test to independent operators. Require that independent operators using this source take the knowledge examination required of other drivers. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-32)

Restructure the written examination required of commercial drivers by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. A battery of test questions should be developed dealing with issues, of safe operating practice frequently encountered by most drivers. Drivers should be prohibited from consulting answer sheets or other reference materials while taking the examination, and a minimum passing score should be established. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-33)

Eliminate the exemptions from portions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations granted to drivers not regularly employed as drivers who operate commercial vehicles on an intermittent, casual, or occasional basis. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-34)

to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Take necessary action to assure that the Problem Driver Pointer System is fully operational and available to the States for their use by the Department of Transportation's published target date of February 1989. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-35)

Encourage State driver licensing authorities to use the Rapid Response System feature of the National Driver Register (NDR) at the earliest practicable date both to obtain prompter access to NDR records and to prepare for use of the Problem Driver Pointer System when it becomes available. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-36)

Actively work with the States to prepare them to participate in the Problem Driver Pointer System by encouraging the adoption of necessary Statutory changes, provision of adequate budget and other resources implementation of appropriate administrative and technical changes, and other preparations as needed. (Class II, Priority Action) (H-86-37)

Also, the Safety Board reiterated Safety Recommendation H-83-21 made to the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety on May 3, 1983:

Upon completion of the testing of the Tractor-Trailer Driver Training Standards, the Sample Model Curriculum, and final examination criteria, amend Part 3919 "Qualifications of Drivers," of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to Include criteria and standards for the training of tractor-trailer drivers.

and Safety Recommendation H-83-68 made to the Federal Highway Administration on December 5, 1983:

Revise Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 49 CFR 391.43 to incorporate a provision, similar to that specified in 14 CFR 67-20(a) for airmen medical certification, which will prohibit the falsification or omission of medical information in connection with a medical certification physical examination.