Appendix A-1_SDLA Survey_DRAFT 20230203

OMB Control Number: XXXX-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

_{Appendix A-}1: SDLA Survey Text

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is XXXX-XXXX (expiration date: xx/xx/xxxx). Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 45 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, gathering the information needed, and completing the web-based survey. All responses to this collection of information are voluntary. If you have comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden send them to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, MC-RRA, 1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E., Washington, DC, 20590.

CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

Introduction and Purpose

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

In the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Congress passed a requirement for FMCSA to establish an Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) program that both enhances existing training standards and establishes minimum level CDL requirements consistent across all jurisdictions. FMCSA is currently sponsoring a project titled “Effectiveness of Third-Party Testing and Minimum Standards for the CDL Knowledge and Skills Tests”, which will provide a timely opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the ELDT program, assess third-party training provider performance, and verify/validate compliance with ELDT minimum standards. There are two main objectives for this project:

1. To determine the effectiveness of third-party testing programs for CDL skills tests; and

2. To determine the effectiveness of minimum training and minimum testing standards for CDL knowledge and skills tests.

The project team is conducting a survey of the jurisdictions to gather background information on which version of the 2005 AAMVA CDL (AAMVA V) Test System or equivalent is being utilized as required by Federal CDL regulations (49 CFR 383.131-133). The survey results will also provide background information on State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) testing programs to help direct separate data collection efforts in support of accomplishing the project objectives.

The survey should take no more than 45 minutes of your time (30 minutes estimated for information gathering, and 15 minutes estimated to complete the online survey). Please note that as part of this survey, you will be asked to share information about the AAMVA V (or equivalent) Test System that you use and supporting information about your testing methods.

Confidentiality

By taking this survey, you are consenting to be a part of this study. We will not ask for your name or contact information, and we will not report which survey responses are associated with a specific SDLA. Because it is possible that you may feel sensitive about sharing this information, the research team will report survey information generally with other responses. At no time will data that can identify you as a person be used by anyone other than the approved team members working on the project.

You may remove your data from the study if you wish, but you must tell the team members at once so that the data may be removed. If you choose to withdraw your consent, you can expect the researchers to redact your data from their dataset, destroy your data, and prevent future use of your data for research purposes. This is possible in some, but not all, cases.

If you feel comfortable with this information, please begin to take the survey.

Questions

To instead receive a paper copy of the survey questions, or to ask a question, please contact Nicholas Kehoe at 703-754-0248 or [email protected] or Nicholas Owens at 703-298-9972 or [email protected]. Thank you for your help!

If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or concerns or complaints about the research, you may contact the Solutions IRB (the body that oversees protection of study participants) at 855-226-4472 or [email protected] or P.O. Box 1041, Yarnell, AZ, 85362.

SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. Is your SDLA utilizing a test system equivalent to the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System as outlined in 49 CFR 383.131-133?

• Yes

• No

If yes, when did your SDLA implement it?

2. Which components of the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System has your SDLA fully implemented?

• Both written exams and skills testing

• Written exams only

• Skills testing only

• Neither; we have not fully implemented either component of the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System.

3. Is your SDLA using individual road skills areas or a carousel approach?

• Individual road skills only

• Carousel approach only

• Both individual road skills and carousel approach

4. What entity in your State evaluates the road skills requirements of the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System?

• Third-party examiners only

• State examiners only

• Both State and third-party examiners

5. Does your SDLA administer the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System written exams (or equivalent) electronically or on paper?

• Electronically

• Paper

• Both electronically and on paper

6. Do your State statutes permit you to use third parties to conduct knowledge tests?

• Yes

• No

If yes, has this been implemented?

• Yes

• No

7. Are written test results scored using an automated pass/fail algorithm?

• Yes

• No

If no, are results calculated manually?

• Yes

• No

8. Enter the percentage of use for each of the optional Basic Vehicle Control Skills Tests (off-road).

Skill	Percentage of Use
	0-25%	26-50%	51-75%	76-99%	100%
Driver Side Parallel Park
Conventional Parallel Park
Offset Back/Right
Offset Back/Left

9. Does your SDLA conduct overt and covert testing?

• Overt only

• Covert only

• Both overt and covert

10. Enter the percentage pass rate for skills testing based on the testing method (State vs. third-party). Enter N/A if not applicable.

____% pass rate for State testing

____% pass rate for third-party testing

11. Enter the percentage pass rate for knowledge testing based on the testing method (State vs. third-party). Enter N/A if not applicable.

____% pass rate for State testing

____% pass rate for third-party testing

12. What are/were the challenges of implementing each area of the AAMVA 2005 CDL Test System (written, off-road, on-road)? Check all that apply.

Challenge	Written	Off-Road	On-Road
Need for foreign languages
Knowledge tests not automated
Prohibitive programming costs
Staffing at State level
Test site space limitations
Rural environment limitations
State-allocated skills test time limitations based on driver demand
Out-of-date laws or rules
Cellular or internet coverage
Other

12b. If you selected “Other”, please explain: (free response)

13. Does your State audit and monitor State-employed skills test examiners’ records (including conducting unannounced, on-site inspections) more often than the required once every two years?

• Yes, we audit every 1-5 months

• Yes, we audit every 6-12 months

• Yes, we audit every 13-18 months

• Yes, we audit every 19-23 months

• No, we audit once every two years (or more)

• No, we do not audit

• Not applicable

14. Does your State audit and monitor third-party skills test examiners’ records (including conducting unannounced, on-site inspections) more often than the required once every two years?

• Yes, we audit every 1-5 months

• Yes, we audit every 6-12 months

• Yes, we audit every 13-18 months

• Yes, we audit every 19-23 months

• No, we audit once every two years (or more)

• No, we do not audit

• Not applicable

COMPLETION NOTICE

Thank you for completing the survey! Your feedback is very helpful. Please contact Nicholas Kehoe at 703-754-0248 or [email protected] or Nicholas Owens at 703-298-9972 or [email protected] with any questions.

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