The Winding Road to In-House CDL Training

T H E W I N D I N G R O A D T O I N - H O U S E C D L T R A I N I N G

The new ELDT program, Entry Level Driver Training, is not a new program, but was mandated by Congress back in 2012. Challenges at the state and federal levels caused the roll out of the program to be delayed at the county level. It was finally implemented on February 7, 2022, and is up and running successfully!

In building out this new program, The Federal Motor Carrier took a system that essentially had no documented training and no nationalized standards for training and turned it into a program that now has a regimented tracking system as well as much-needed classroom theory. This is in addition to the behind-the-wheel training portion that was always in place but is now led by a certified instructor that tracks hours and requires 80% minimum test scores in both areas in order to advance and take the CDL test.

To respond to this mandate, El Paso County took the initiative and created a full-time CDL trainer position to respond to this need and to keep it in-house. Prior to this mandate, we did all our own in-house training with some awesome trainers, usually from our Truck String. However, the need for open seats and available trainers to accommodate all of the new employees was complicated.

Erin Vera, who came from the Truck String and was a consistent and thorough trainer then, now fills this full-time position. To date, she has helped seven people achieve their Class B CDL, with four employees currently working on their Class A license. This is about a $4,000 benefit to a new employee just starting with us and just another great benefit of coming to work for El Paso County!