The FMCSA Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program

On January 14, 2022, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched the Safe Driver Apprentice Pilot (SDAP) Program. This program is part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that Congress passed and President Biden signed into law in November 2021.

The SDAP Program allows young drivers of ages 18 to 20 who have commercial driver licenses (CDLs) to undergo extensive training that will let them operate commercial vehicles across interstate lines as 21-year-old truck drivers. This apprenticeship truck driver training program was implemented to address the shortage of truck drivers, caused in part by an aging working population.

According to the American Trucking Association, the U.S. has a shortage of more than 80,000 truck drivers. This gap could increase to 160,000 in 2030. The shortage is causing supply chain disruptions that we continue to feel today. That’s why there’s an urgent need for driver shortage solutions.

A bipartisan lawmaker group in the Senate and House introduced the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Safe Act — a safe pilot program — in 2021. It addressed the driver shortage by overriding the federal law that bans CDL holders below age 21 to operate commercial motor vehicles across state lines. The Department of Transportation (DOT) released the bulletin on launching the driver apprenticeship programs in January 2022.

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Who can participate in the FMCSA SDAP Program?

According to the FMCSA bulletin, only 18- to 20-year-old drivers with a CDL in their state can participate in the pilot program. Apart from being a qualified CDL driver apprentice, the young drivers cannot participate in the program if:

• They have more than one license (with the exception of a military one)
• Their license has been revoked, suspended, canceled, or disqualified for violation related to their state's 49 CFR 383.51 rule
• They have been convicted of violations such as being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance; refusing to take an alcohol test; leaving the scene of a crash; driving a CMV with the CDL revoked, canceled or suspended; causing a fatality; or leaving the scene of a crash
• They have had more than one conviction for violations such as driving recklessly, texting while driving, or using a handheld phone while driving

The maximum number of apprentices who can participate in the FMCSA SDAP program is 3,000 for any period. Here are the qualifications for a motor carrier to participate:

1. Complete an application to participate - The FMCSA is accepting applications online
2. Motor carriers must not have any of the following on their record:
   • An unsatisfactory or conditional safety rating
   • A crash rate or a driver OOS rate above the national average
   • A vehicle OOS rate above the national average
   • Any open enforcement actions from the last 6 years

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Inside the FMCSA SDAP Program

The SDAP program consists of two probationary periods of safety training. The first takes 120 hours and the second is a 280-hour probationary period. The young driver apprentice can drive a truck or vehicle that carries goods across state lines in these periods, but only when accompanied by an experienced driver.

The FMCSA considers an experienced driver to be someone who:

• Is at least 26 years old
• Has held a CDL
• Has been employed for the past two years
• Has at least 5 years of interstate CMV experience
• Has no preventable accidents reported to the agency or any pointed moving violations

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What happens during FMCSA SDAP Program probationary periods?

During the first probationary period, the young driver should clock at least 120 hours on duty. At least 80 hours of those 120 hours should be spent driving a CMV. The motor carrier training the apprentice should make sure he or she completes the required driving time.

As a result of the training, the apprentice should show competency in:

• Safety awareness or an operations safe drivers program
• City traffic
• Interstate
• Speed and space management
• Lane control
• Rural 2-lane and evening driving
• Mirror scanning
• Logging and complying with rules for hours of service
• Right and left turns

The second probationary period entails the 280-hour on-duty time of the pilot driver. The apprentice should have no fewer than 160 hours driving a CMV. The fleet motor carrier's second period involves training the driver's competence in:

• Pre-trip inspections
• Fueling procedures
• Weighing loads
• Backing and maneuvering in close quarters
• Trip planning and truck routes
• Map reading, permits, and navigation
• Weight distribution and sliding tandems
• Coupling and uncoupling procedures

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Reporting requirements for the FMCSA SDAP Program

Fleet or motor carriers participating in the FMCSA SDAP Program must submit monthly data on their apprentice's activity. This report includes important details such as driving and duty hours, off-duty time, breaks, vehicle miles traveled, and safety outcomes.

Netradyne delivers AI fleet management tools to help you track the performance and gather the data you need during your driver apprenticeship program. Check out how our dash cams and our positive-behavior based GreenZone Score greatly improve the competencies of drivers with all levels of experience.

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Commonly Asked Questions

What is the FMCSA SDAP Program?

The FMCSA SDAP Program is an initiative launched by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It aims to combat the shortage of truck drivers across the U.S. by training young drivers to fill truck driving jobs at a younger age than was previously allowed.

Who qualifies for the FMCSA apprenticeship?

Drivers who are 18 to 20 years old and hold a CDL in their state may participate in the pilot program, provided they meet the program’s requirements for good driving record.

How does Netradyne support driver apprenticeships?

YNetradyne supports driver apprenticeships by providing the HD cameras and fleet compliance software carriers need to track the performance of their apprentices in the program. AI-powered dash cams can give carriers a clear view of what’s really happening on the road, and real-time in-cab alerts can warn apprentices of potential hazards before they result in accidents.