Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Feb. 24, 2023:
Pitt Ohio Express (CCJ Top 250, No. 52) is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption for its drivers from one of the requirements in the agency’s Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program.
The company is requesting to use drivers under the age of 21 that have a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to operate in interstate commerce to participate in the SDAP program. Pitt Ohio said it believes the requested exemption would make it easier to recruit drivers to participate in the program.
The SDAP currently requires under-21 drivers to hold a commercial driver’s license rather than a learner’s permit before enrolling in the program.
Under Pitt Ohio’s request, the CLP holders would still have to meet all other requirements of the SDAP, as well as the existing regulatory requirements for CLP holders.
If granted, Pitt Ohio estimates that 25 CLP holders would operate under the exemption a year.
FMCSA is accepting comments on the request here through March 27.
