Agency proposes continuing existing reporting requirements for training providers through 2030; comments accepted until Dec. 21.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking input from commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers as it prepares to renew federal reporting requirements that affect thousands of driver training schools and instructors nationwide.
The notice, published Oct. 21 in the Federal Register, concerns information submitted to FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry (TPR), which tracks training providers and verifies that prospective commercial drivers have completed required entry-level driver training (ELDT).
FMCSA estimates the reporting requirements affect 26,284 training providers nationwide and account for approximately 198,730 hours of reporting work annually. The agency is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue collecting the information through 2030.
The notice does not propose changes to existing ELDT curriculum or training standards.
Instead, FMCSA is asking for public feedback on the information schools and other training providers must submit, including whether the reporting requirements create an unnecessary burden.
What CDL schools and instructors are required to report
The federal ELDT requirements, which took effect Feb. 7, 2022, established minimum training standards for individuals seeking certain CDLs and endorsements. Under those regulations, training providers must register with FMCSA and certify that they meet applicable federal and state training requirements.
The registry includes truck driving schools, community colleges, carrier-operated training programs and other organizations that provide qualifying instruction. Once registered, providers must keep their information current and submit records documenting when students successfully complete required training.
According to FMCSA, providers must update their registry information at least once every two years. They must also report certain changes, such as updates to the organization’s name, address, telephone number or types of training offered, without waiting for their next scheduled update.
Training providers are also responsible for electronically submitting each student’s training completion information to the registry. Under existing requirements, those records must be submitted by midnight of the second business day after the student completes training. The information allows state driver licensing agencies to verify that applicants have completed required training before administering applicable CDL skills or knowledge tests.
Why the reporting requirements matter to future drivers
Although the proposed renewal primarily affects training providers, the reporting system also plays an important role for individuals working toward their first CDL or certain endorsements.
Federal ELDT requirements generally apply to individuals seeking a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from a Class B to a Class A CDL, or obtaining a passenger, school bus or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time.
Prospective drivers subject to those requirements must complete the appropriate training through a provider listed on FMCSA’s registry. Once training is completed, the provider submits the student’s certification information electronically. State licensing agencies then use those records to confirm that applicants have met their training requirements before proceeding with the applicable tests.
For prospective drivers, this means choosing a registered training provider is an important step in obtaining a CDL. Applicants can search for registered schools and other providers through FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry website.
Drivers who have completed training can also use the registry to check whether their provider has submitted their training certification.
FMCSA seeks feedback on reporting workload
FMCSA’s current authorization to collect the information expires Feb. 28, 2027. The agency is now seeking approval to continue the collection through 2030, using estimates based on actual registry data and training certification transactions during the past year. FMCSA estimates that each response will take just over half an hour to complete; the total annual reporting burden is expected to be 198,730 hours.
As part of the renewal process, FMCSA invites training providers and other interested parties to comment on whether the information being collected is necessary, whether the agency’s workload estimates are accurate and whether reporting requirements could be made more efficient.
The agency is also seeking suggestions for improving the quality, usefulness and clarity of the information collected. FMCSA will consider the comments when preparing its request for continued approval from OMB.
How to submit comments
Comments must be received by Dec. 21, 2026. Training schools, instructors, industry organizations and other interested parties can submit feedback through the federal rulemaking portal at Regulations.gov.
Comments should reference Docket No. FMCSA-2026-3334 and identify the reporting requirements or workload estimates being addressed.
The agency encourages commenters to explain their concerns and provide reasons for any recommended changes.
Comments submitted to the docket will become part of the public record.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
