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CVTA's ELDT Task Force Meets with FMCSA to Increase Training Enforcement


From left to right: Martin Garsee - NAPFTDS Executive Director, Jeff Burkhardt - CVTA Chairman, Chief Derek Barrs - FMCSA Administrator, Andrew Poliakoff - CVTA Executive Director, John Diab, Sr. - CVTA's ELDT Task Force Chairman
From left to right: Martin Garsee - NAPFTDS Executive Director, Jeff Burkhardt - CVTA Chairman, Chief Derek Barrs - FMCSA Administrator, Andrew Poliakoff - CVTA Executive Director, John Diab, Sr. - CVTA's ELDT Task Force Chairman

On Tuesday, November 18th, leadership from CVTA’s ELDT Task Force visited the United States Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., to discuss ways to increase enforcement in the truck driver training sector.


The Task Force meeting with Administrator Barrs was a successful and encouraging step in the right direction, with an agency that is clearly more focused on TPR enforcement than ever before. Coming on the heels of Secretary Duffy's pointed comments on CDL testing the night before on Fox News, the meeting further indicated that the efforts of CVTA, ATA, NAPFTDS, and other stakeholders are having a positive effect on the agency's policies. 


The meeting included FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, Chief Counsel Jesse Elison, FMCSA senior advisors and other USDOT officials. The discussion was constructive and focused on ways to optimize TPR enforcement. The meeting strengthened CVTA’s already strong relationship with FMCSA and provided an opportunity to engage directly with Administrator Barrs, whose law enforcement background clearly adds a no-nonsense perspective to the enforcement process. 


The Task Force highlighted the grave risks that students face when encountering bad actors and the critical challenges that reputable CVTA and NAPFTDS schools face when competing with CDL mills that skirt licensure and training requirements.


Here are some of the important topics covered during the meeting:


  • CVTA thanked FMCSA for shrinking the TPR, which will help the agency better target audits, by reducing the overall data set. 


  • CVTA reiterated its preference for using state rosters for TPR eligibility and welcomed FMCSA’s increased use of state licensure/compliance to verify providers.


  • Administrator Barrs expressed clear and sharp disapproval of the current self-certification model and a desire to fix it.


  • CVTA noted that any future rulemaking should be cautious and that FMCSA should first and foremost use its broad authority and audit powers


  • CVTA urged stronger coordination with states, noting uneven state participation and calling for clearer communication with SDLAs to ensure timely action against violators.


The meeting helped build momentum toward stronger enforcement and reaffirmed the shared commitment between FMCSA and CVTA to protect the public and uphold high training standards. 


Importantly, Administrator Barrs welcomed the opportunity for future direct engagement.


The ELDT Task Force will continue to work with USDOT and FMCSA to increase TPR enforcement. CVTA thanks the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS) for their steadfast dedication and efforts to increase safety through greater training enforcement.


See more about CVTA, ATA & NAPFTDS actions here:


CVTA/ATA Joint Op-Ed: https://tinyurl.com/56yw3rhc 






 
 
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