CVTA’s Task Force gathered in Washington D.C. this week to meet with federal regulators and trucking industry stakeholders to address widespread problems of ELDT noncompliance and to deliver specific recommendations to the FMCSA. These meetings were notably successful, with Task Force members presenting new, state-based data and information to a keenly interested Administrator and an audience of federal regulators.
On Thursday, February 16th, CVTA leadership met with FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson and key decision-makers on the Administrator’s team to offer recommendations that would ensure compliance with ELDT’s requirements. CVTA’s Task Force presented detailed state-by-state examples of ELDT non-compliance by entities registered on the Training Provider Registry (TPR), and federal leadership strongly appreciated CVTA’s hard data and specific recommendations. The Administrator agreed with CVTA’s request for regularly scheduled meetings with CVTA as the Agency and stakeholders work together to improve the ELDT implementation and the TPR.
The Administrator also shared that CVTA’s previous recommendations had led to the creation of an internal FMCSA working group that plans to enhance communication with states about ELDT, create a robust auditing program, and consider additional clarifications that would lead to improved ELDT compliance.
Prior to meeting with the Administrator, CVTA’s Task Force met with leadership at the American Trucking Associations (ATA), including President and CEO Chris Spear and Executive Vice President for Advocacy, Bill Sullivan. ATA was keenly interested in TPR registration issues and Spear shared that CVTA has the full support of ATA in pursing improved ELDT compliance with FMCSA.
These meetings energized the strong partnerships between CVTA and FMCSA as well as CVTA and ATA.
CVTA will continue to pursue improved ELDT compliance in several ways. These include:
• Regular meetings with FMCSA staff to report implementation failures and provide actionable state and federal solutions
• Continued engagement with state agencies to exchange compliance information between FMCSA and state agencies, beginning with a March webinar to the National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS)
• Advocacy partnerships with ATA and state trucking associations to raise awareness of ELDT non-compliance problems and pursue solutions in states in addition to federal solutions
CVTA is fully committed to improving implementation of ELDT to serve to deliver the promised safety benefits that protect our nation’s highways. We sincerely thank CVTA members for the information they’ve submitted on ELDT noncompliance and welcome ongoing feedback.
