Colorado takes roadway safety seriously, including efforts to ensure that commercial truck drivers are adequately trained before taking large, unwieldy trucks on the road. A truck can outweigh a standard passenger car by as much as 76,000 pounds, posing a serious safety hazard to vulnerable motorists. According to the National Safety Council, there were 5,837 fatal truck accidents in a single recent year. Colorado addresses the problem with training requirements for commercial license holders.
Training for Commercial Truck Drivers In Colorado
In February of 2022, Colorado implemented the new safety training required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for new drivers. Aspiring truck drivers must complete an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through certified trainers before obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Trainees must pass a written test and an on-the-road proficiency test. Prospective trainees can find courses near them by checking online at the Training Provider Registry. The registry is open to those seeking to obtain any one of the following:
- A first-time Class A or Class B CDL
- An upgrade from an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL
- First-time endorsements for a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous material carrying (H)
The ELDT training requirement has been implemented as part of the Moving Ahead for Progress In the 21st Century Act.
What’s Included in Colorado’s ELDT Courses for Commercial Drivers?
The two-part exam includes important skills training to minimize the risks of truck accidents and other safety hazards. ELDT includes essential driving skills in rural, highway, and urban settings as well as basic truck maneuvering, driving in hazardous weather conditions, crucial pre-trip truck inspections, and recognizing and properly responding to hazards.
Is the Required ELDT and Endorsement Training Enough?
A 1995 study found that a lack of federally mandated training resulted in different levels of proficiencies in different states, with some commercial drivers receiving inadequate training. The newer federal requirements seek to remedy the problem but are Colorado truck drivers adequately trained now that ELDT requirements are in place?
After a commercial truck accident with injury victims, part of the accident investigation often focuses on determining whether or not the truck driver received adequate training. The investigation may include a rigorous scrutiny of the training the driver received during their ELDT course and any additional training. If the quality of the training is lacking, or the program used shortcuts to speed more drivers through to obtaining their CDL, the injury victim could recover compensation through a claim against the negligent party.
Liability In Colorado Truck Accident Claims for Damages
Under Colorado’s modified comparative negligence insurance laws, a truck accident injury victim could recover compensation from one or more parties or business entities that contributed to the cause of an accident. Common liable parties in truck accident claims include an inexperienced or negligent driver or a trucking company that hired drivers with insufficient training or provided insufficient training if a company trains drivers on-site. In other cases, the manufacturer of a defective truck part, or a freight company that failed to secure or properly balance cargo could bear liability.
An injury victim’s Westminster truck accident attorney performs an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and identify the correct liable party. Compensation for a truck accident in Colorado typically comes from the at-fault party’s liability insurance. If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. today or call (303) 451-0300 .