Carrier Wants Pre-CDL Driver Training Waiver Also Given to Prime, C.R. England, CRST

Washington D.C. – Another large carrier is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to allow its commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder in the front passenger seat.

Springfield, MO-based Wilson Logistics has requested an exemption to allow CLP holders who have successfully passed the CDL skills test to drive a CMV without having a CDL holder seated in the front seat, according to a recent filing with the FMCSA.

In the request for exemption, Wilson Logistics states that the CDL holder would remain in the CMV while the CLP holder is driving, but not necessarily in the passenger seat.

Wilson Logistics believes this would allow the CLP holder to participate in a “revenue-generating trip back to his or her State of domicile to obtain the CDL document.”

Further, the request argues that such an exemption would be safer.

“Permitting a CLP holder to drive to his or her State of domicile without a CDL holder in the passenger seat is safer than current State regulations that allow a new CDL holder to drive unsupervised, moments after receiving the CDL,” Wilson contends.

If granted, Wilson Logistics estimates approximately 400-500 CLP holders would operate under the terms of the exemption each year.