Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program
Overview
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Section 23022, requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to establish an apprenticeship pilot program that would allow drivers between the ages of 18-20 with an intrastate commercial driver’s license to operate interstate commerce under very specific conditions.
To meet this requirement, FMCSA established the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program (SDAP). This three-year program will help individuals ages 18, 19, and 20 explore interstate trucking careers and help trucking companies hire and train new drivers through an apprenticeship pilot program.
Background
On January 14, 2022, FMCSA announced in a Federal Register Notice (FRN) the establishment of the SDAP Program. The Program allows certain 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. The FRN provides details about the pilot program.
FMCSA will post an announcement when companies can apply for participation in the SDAP Program. The agency will also include details about the application process.
How to Prepare
We are accepting applications for the SDAP Program, we encourage companies to:
- Become familiar with the pilot program requirements by reviewing the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program Federal Register Notice;
- If you are not registered with the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program, learn how to join.
- Review your safety performance data to determine if your company meets the standards.
SDAP Program Fact Sheet
Last updated: Tuesday, May 16, 2023