Most professional truck drivers are diligent about the safe and legal operation of their vehicles. However, many preventable crashes result from an illegal action or unsafe behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving or following too closely, by one or more of the vehicles involved in these crashes. Research has consistently shown highly visible traffic enforcement will deter drivers from such behaviors and toward conformance with legal and socially acceptable driving norms.

However, experience has shown most law enforcement officers assigned with traffic enforcement responsibilities are reluctant to conduct a vehicle stop of a large truck or motorcoach after observing either or both an illegal or unsafe driving behavior. This reluctance is grounded in both a lack of knowledge and skills relating to these types of vehicle stops.

To address this lack of knowledge and skills FMCSA has created a new Large Truck and Bus Traffic Enforcement Training program. Developed by the National Training Center and reviewed by local law enforcement the training is designed to enhance officers’ knowledge about the dangers of unsafe driving by large trucks and buses. The training is offered free to all law enforcement and agencies. It was developed to be delivered either as a one day, instructor-led training or divided into short sections for delivery at roll-call.