New Trucker Rule Postponed by Executive Order

A rule called Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Vehicle Operators was set to take effect on Feb. 6. However, truckers in Mississippi and elsewhere in the nation may have heard that its implementation has been pushed back until at least March 21. This delay is due to President Donald Trump ordering a 60-day freeze on new regulations and a delay on published rules that had yet to be implemented.

The new rule involves any trucker who applies for a commercial driver’s license on or after Feb. 7, 2020. Although the implementation of the rule may be delayed, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is not pushing back the compliance date. The rule requires individuals who obtain CDLs on or after the compliance date to undergo a core classroom curriculum in addition to getting experience behind the wheel.

However, there is no minimum amount of time that a new trucker must spend behind the wheel prior to getting his or her license. While a draft rule proposed a 30-hour limit, it was eliminated from the final rule. Those who are applying for CDLs when the rule becomes official must first practice with trainers belonging to the newly formed national registry.

People who are injured in truck accidents caused by truck drivers may be entitled to compensation. Accident victims may be entitled to recoup any medical costs incurred as well as lost wages or lost future earnings. If truck company owners failed to properly train their drivers or encouraged them to drive while tired, the owners may also be liable for any damages suffered by an injured victim in a truck accident. Crash victims may be entitled to receive compensation through a negotiated settlement or jury award.