Training for Entry-Level Drivers

Training for Entry-Level Drivers With Less than 2 Years Experience

While insurance carrier’s minimum driver qualification standards indicate that divers should have at least 2 years of verifiable driving experience, some insureds may wish to establish an in-house training program for those entry-level drivers.

A successful in-house driver training program involves several key elements:

Carrier Qualifications

FMCSA rating of satisfactory
Carrier not having more than one CSA basic in Alert, the one alert cannot be Unsafe Driving
Must have a dedicated Safety Manager
Department of Transportation DOT carrier authority for five years
Regional operation of not more than 200 miles radius
DOT crash rate of fewer than 75 accidents per million miles driven
Underwriting must receive confirmation from an insurance Casualty Risk Consultant that the carrier complies with insurance guidelines

Trainer’s Qualification

Five years of experience operating similar equipment to that begin driven
Completed PTDI Train the Trainer course or an equivalent
Should have a clean MVR for the past 24 months
No preventable accidents within the past 24 months
Should be employed by the company for a minimum of 2 years
Should have an annual performance evaluation

Besides, the Trainer should be held accountable for any losses involving the trainee until the trainee is released.

Trainee Requirements

At a minimum, the driver must successfully complete a driver training course conducted under the Professional Truck Driving Institute of America (PTDIA) or like standards. The insured should do an on-site inspection of these driving schools and their curriculum. The insurance carrier does not support entry-level driver training conducted by a spouse, friend, or another closely related third party.

On top of completing the course, the trainees should meet the following criteria:

No moving violations in the past three years
All trainees, including owner operators, should meet all other minimum hiring guidelines outlined in this manual, except for the experience level
A transcript form the driving school should be provided indicating a passing grade of 80%

On the Job/Behind the Wheel Training

After Trainees complete their schooling and orientation program, they should be assigned to a driver trainer for behind the wheel training. Following are a suggestion for this very important part of training:

Identify progressive goals for the trainee as part of the training program
Review the trainee’s progress every 10-14 days
Allow the trainees to critique the trainer as well over the same period
Continue the process for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks
After a reasonable time of demonstrating safe driving habits, move the trainee to a local or short-run capacity (50-200 miles from terminal)
If this portion is successfully completed, then a final assessment should be done. If the trainee passes a comprehensive skills test, he/she may be moved to a fleet position. If not, additional training may be done or termination if necessary.