Albert Farley Jr., a seasoned bus driver, is seeking an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) entry-level driver training regulations. The FMCSA is currently gathering public comments on this request.

The request: Farley wants relief from the rule that requires instructors to have at least two years of driving experience with the same or higher class and/or endorsement as the commercial motor vehicle they'll be teaching others to drive.

• Farley, a Class A commercial driver's license (CDL) holder, has 32 years of experience as a bus driver and became a Class 1 CDL instructor to help resolve a bus driver shortage recently.
• He argues that the two-year driving requirement imposes a financial strain and negatively affects his current job.

The need: Farley points out the shortage of CDL Class A holders in the agricultural and logging sectors. He believes his exemption would support filling this gap and address the lack of CDL instructors, reported the Federal Register.

Public response: The FMCSA is open to receiving comments until January 8, 2025, allowing individuals and organizations to share their views on this exemption request.

Thankfully, this initiative could potentially add more instructors, helping train more drivers for critical industries without compromising safety standards.