Entry-level driver training: where your next driver starts
Almost every newly licensed Class A or B driver came through entry-level driver training. The requirements have been in place since February 2022, but FMCSA has spent the past year removing thousands of the schools that deliver it.
Written by Gabriel Gonzalez
ELDT in numbers
Entry-level driver training (ELDT) is the federal training a new driver must complete with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before testing for a first Class A or B CDL, a B-to-A upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus, or hazmat endorsement. It has applied since February 7, 2022.
Every carrier that grows by hiring newly licensed drivers depends on entry-level driver training, whether or not it ever runs a school. The driver you hire this fall was trained and certified through a registry that FMCSA has spent the past year cleaning out.
I have spent more than 22 years at Simplex, nearly 16 of them as COO, and I now lead revenue strategy. From that seat, ELDT is a pipeline question: where your new drivers come from, whether their training holds up, and whether building your own program pays. This guide covers the rule first, then those decisions.
The full briefing, read aloud
8 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Gabriel Gonzalez.
Key takeaways
ELDT comes before certain CDL tests
A first Class A or B CDL, a B-to-A upgrade, or a first P, S, or H endorsement, for anyone whose CLP was issued on or after February 7, 2022.
Only registry providers count
Training must come from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and FMCSA does not approve or certify any of them.
There is no minimum number of hours
Trainees need 80% on the theory assessment and documented proficiency behind the wheel.
FMCSA is removing schools
The registry showed 9,963 training locations removed as of September 24, 2026. Training after a removal date is invalid.
Carriers can train their own drivers
Motor carriers and owner-operators can register as providers, but the listing brings reporting, audit, and record-keeping duties.
In this articleContents
What is entry-level driver training?
Entry-level driver training is the minimum federal training a new commercial driver must finish before certain CDL tests. It has applied since February 7, 2022, under 49 CFR Part 380, and it must come from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.
It is not a license or a card the driver carries. The provider reports completion to FMCSA, and the state checks that record electronically before it gives the test.
Who needs ELDT?
Anyone who got a commercial learner's permit (CLP) on or after February 7, 2022, and is applying for:
- A Class A or Class B CDL for the first time
- An upgrade from a Class B to a Class A CDL
- A passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsement for the first time
- A hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time, before the hazmat knowledge test
Who does not need it?
- Drivers issued a CDL, or an S, P, or H endorsement, before February 7, 2022, even if it has since lapsed
- CLP holders whose permit was issued before February 7, 2022, if they get the CDL before the CLP or renewed CLP expires
- Drivers excepted from the CDL rules or applying for certain restricted CDLs under 49 CFR 383.3, qualifying military drivers under 383.77, and drivers removing a restriction
Getting a lapsed pre-2022 CDL back is a state process. Our guide to an expired CDL covers it.
What does ELDT training cover?
ELDT has two parts: theory, which can be taught online, and behind-the-wheel (BTW) training on a range and on public roads. Federal rules set no minimum hours for either. The instructor must cover every topic in the curriculum, and the trainee must show proficiency.
| Part | What it covers | How it is judged |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | Every unit of the curriculum, in a classroom, online, or computer-based | Written assessment, 80% overall minimum |
| BTW range | Inspection, backing, parallel parking, and, for Class A, coupling and uncoupling | Instructor documents proficiency |
| BTW public road | Turns, lane changes, interstate entry and exit, shifting, speed and space management | Instructor documents proficiency in the core skills |
For a Class A CDL, the theory units run from basic operation and backing to hours of service, cargo documentation, post-crash procedures, drug and alcohol rules, and medical requirements. Class B holders upgrading to Class A may take a separate theory upgrade curriculum. The hazmat endorsement course is theory only.
Timing and provider rules
- Theory and BTW must both be finished within one year of completing the first part, except for hazmat.
- Theory and BTW can come from different providers, but range and public-road BTW must come from the same one.
- BTW trainees must already hold a CLP or CDL, and train in a vehicle of the same group and type as their skills test.
- Simulators can be used in theory instruction, but not for range or public-road training.
FMCSA warns that some providers require trainees to enroll in both theory and BTW. A driver who plans to split them should confirm before paying for theory.
How does the Training Provider Registry work?
The Training Provider Registry (TPR) is FMCSA's list of the entities allowed to deliver ELDT, and its record of who completed it. Providers register each training location and self-certify that they meet federal and state requirements. FMCSA states that it does not approve or certify providers.
After a trainee finishes, the provider must submit the certification by midnight of the second business day. It shows the class or endorsement, whether theory or BTW was completed, and the BTW clock hours. The state cannot give the skills test, or the hazmat knowledge test, until that record is there.
As of September 24, 2026, the registry counted 18,218 active providers at 30,981 active locations, and 2,022,745 drivers trained since February 2022, including 33,437 in August 2026.
What has changed for CDL schools since 2025?
The rule has not changed: Part 380 was last amended in 2024. Enforcement has. FMCSA has spent the past year removing training providers from the registry.
- December 1, 2025: nearly 3,000 providers removed and 4,500 more put on notice, the first step in a review of the 16,000 then listed.
- February 2026: more than 550 schools received notices of proposed removal.
- July 16, 2026: DOT and Homeland Security Investigations began a joint operation targeting about 75 schools suspected of fraud.
- August 31, 2026: emergency removal of more than 110 providers linked to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English proficiency checks, plus more than 160 proposed removals after nearly 400 investigations in 40 states.
As of September 24, 2026, the registry showed 9,963 training locations removed and 1,052 under review for removal. The stated reasons are falsified training data, curriculum, facility, or instructor failures, and missing records. July's investigations found ranges too small for the maneuvers, unlicensed instructors, and no assessment records.
What happens to trainees when a school is removed?
Training completed before the removal date still counts. Training conducted after it is invalid. Where a provider committed fraud and trainees knowingly took part, FMCSA can invalidate past training too.
A school that receives a notice of proposed removal must tell its current and scheduled trainees, and FMCSA flags it on the registry while the school has 30 days to respond.
What does ELDT mean for carriers hiring new drivers?
For a carrier, ELDT decides where your next driver comes from, and the removals have made a school's registry status part of the hiring decision. Five steps keep the pipeline sound.
Step 1: Decide which licenses you need
Match the training to the freight: Class A for combination vehicles, Class B for heavy straight trucks, and the H, P, or S endorsement only where you use it. Each has its own ELDT curriculum.
Step 2: Vet the school on the registry
Before you sponsor a trainee, confirm the location is active on the TPR and not on its proposed-removal list. FMCSA also suggests asking whether the provider meets state requirements, what it charges, and when classes start.
Step 3: Plan who pays
FMCSA points trainees to state workforce development offices, employer tuition assistance and reimbursement, and employer-based training programs. If you offer any of these, set the terms in writing before training starts.
Step 4: Confirm the record before the test
The school has until midnight of the second business day to report completion. Have the trainee check their TPR record, so a missing upload doesn't push back the test date.
Step 5: Qualify the driver like any other hire
A new CDL shows the state verified ELDT. It does not qualify the driver to work for you. The driver qualification file, the pre-employment drug test, and the rest of your onboarding process still apply, and our driver qualification file service can keep them in order.
Should your company become a training provider?
Motor carriers and owner-operators can register on the TPR and train their own drivers. The real question is whether your hiring volume justifies meeting the provider rules year-round.
To be listed, a provider must:
- Follow the federal curriculum for each class and endorsement it teaches
- Use instructors who hold a CDL of the same or higher class and have two years of experience driving or teaching BTW
- Use facilities and vehicles that meet federal and state rules, and hold any state license required where it trains in person
- Register each training location and allow FMCSA audits
Staying listed takes steady work: report each trainee within two business days, update the registration every two years, report key changes within 30 days, produce records within 48 hours of a request, and keep them for three years.
Low volume carries its own risk. FMCSA is sending notices to providers with training locations that submitted no certifications in the past 12 months. If you would train only a few drivers a year, compare that workload with sponsoring trainees at a vetted school before you register.
How Simplex helps you hire newly licensed drivers
ELDT gets a driver to the CDL test. Qualifying that driver to work for you is a separate job, and that is where we come in.
A complete file for every new hire
When a new CDL holder joins your fleet, we help keep their driver qualification file complete and audit-ready.
Qualifications checked before hiring
We help fleets verify commercial driver qualifications before hiring, from age and CDL to medical certification and endorsements.
Pre-employment testing on schedule
Our drug screen compliance service helps you arrange driver drug tests and keep your testing program on schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is entry-level driver training required for a CDL?+
Can ELDT be done online?+
How many hours is entry-level driver training?+
Do I need ELDT for a hazmat endorsement?+
What happens if my CDL school is removed from the registry?+
How long does a school have to report my training?+
Where this information comes from
The requirements below come from federal regulation, FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and FMCSA announcements, checked on September 24, 2026.
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1
eCFR — 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F
Who needs ELDT, the exceptions, the one-year window, and instructor definitions.
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2
eCFR — 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart G
Provider listing, the 80% assessment, two-day reporting, records, and removal rules.
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3
eCFR — Appendix A to Part 380
The Class A curriculum, no minimum hours, and no simulators for behind-the-wheel training.
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4
FMCSA — Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
FMCSA's summary of who the ELDT regulations apply to.
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5
FMCSA — Training Provider Registry
Provider search, record check, inactivity notices, and the live registry counters.
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6
FMCSA — Selecting a Provider
State requirements, questions to ask providers, and funding options for trainees.
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7
FMCSA — Provider removals, December 1, 2025
Nearly 3,000 providers removed and 4,500 placed on notice.
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8
FMCSA — Interagency fraud crackdown, August 31, 2026
Emergency removal of more than 110 providers and the July investigations.
Written by
Gabriel Gonzalez
Chief Revenue Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Revenue Officer at Simplex Group, with more than 22 years at the company, including nearly 16 years as Chief Operating Officer. His background combines revenue strategy with deep operational experience, giving him a strong perspective on how compliance, risk, permits, cash flow, and operational readiness affect a carrier's ability to grow profitably.
Published · Updated
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Your driver pipeline is only as good as the school behind it
ELDT sets the floor for every newly licensed driver. The registry tells you whether a school is still allowed to deliver it, and a year of removals shows why that check belongs in your hiring plan.
If you want help qualifying new drivers and keeping their files ready for an audit, talk to our team.