The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the deadline allowing more people to submit comments about a proposed driver-training rule.

The FMCSA extended the deadline to submit comments from March 25 to May 23 after receiving a letter from the American Trucking Associations requesting the extension.

The rule proposes 44-hours of behind-the-wheel training in addition to 76 hours of classroom time before potential truckers can test for and receive their Class A CDL.  Students will also be required to fulfill those hours at an accredited school with qualified instructors and staff.

The rule also requires that truck driving schools be accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education or by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This would also apply to schools operated by trucking companies.

The Docket number for the proposed rule is FMCSA-2007-27748.

Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=FMCSA-2007-27748 to comment online.

Or you can fax your comments with the Docket ID number to (202) 493-2251 or send them via snail mail to:

Docket Management Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
Room W-12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Hand deliver comments between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, except on federal holidays, to the ground floor of the U.S. Department of Transportation building, Room W-12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE , Washington, DC.