The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it has composed a 26-member group made up of carriers, drivers, training schools and safety organizations to a committee tasked with developing an entry-level driver training rule in the U.S.

As reported by CCJ magazine, the committee will be responsible for helping to develop minimum training requirements for truck operators, including length of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel experience; accreditation versus certification of CDL training programs and schools; potential distinct curricula for property, hazmat and/or passenger carriers and other areas.

The members list includes representatives from the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Women in Trucking, among other stakeholders.

FMCSA intends to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by this fall, with a Final Rule expected next year.

On this side of the border, Ontario became the first province in Canada to commit to mandatory entry level training for Class A truck drivers in the province.

OTA and the Canadian Trucking Alliance had been calling an industry-developed standard that must be completed before a prospective driver can take the licence test.

Ontario’s Minister of Transportation, Steven Del Duca made the announcement last fall to move forward on such a standard.