Trucking Driving School With PTDI Certification
Trucking driving school that promise to train students in less than three weeks should be treated with caution. This is usually too short a time period to learn all the important information a qualified trucker should know. Choose a trucking driving school that meets or exceeds the minimum of 148 hours of training recommended by the PTDI with 104 hours assigned to class time, and 44 hours assigned to driving time. Schools that are PTDI certified are the best schools to choose. Transport companies know that graduates of a PTDI certified school are the most qualified, safest and well-trained drivers to hire. Choose a trucking driving school that incorporates the minimum, if not all, basic curriculum-based PTDI standards in its training program. In preparation for the CDL, training should include general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles and triples, tank trucks and hazardous materials. Other topics should at least include orientation to school and trucking, control systems, vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, backing, coupling and uncoupling, special rigs, visual search, communication, speed management, space management, night operation, extreme driving conditions, hazard perception, emergency maneuvers, skid control and recovery, vehicle systems, preventive maintenance and servicing, diagnosing and reporting malfunctions, handling cargo, cargo documentation, hours of service requirements, accident procedures, personal health and safety, trip planning, public and employer relations, career planning and job search, railroad crossing procedures, driver-dispatch relations, DOT rules and defensive driving techniques.
Trucking driving school that can’t or don’t provide credentials or proper catalogs outlining their curriculum should be avoided. A legitimate educational establishment publishes this information and other documents or material that is readily available for interested candidates. Try to select a well-known college that proves it has nothing to hide, and does not operate under false pretenses. A good school that is working in the best interest of its students would document their claims, and immediately give students personal copies for record keeping. Find a trucking driving school that is upfront with tuition costs, cancellation and refund policies. Good schools will provide their students with several reasonable financing options. Not all students are able to pay their fees up front, and will need to arrange finance. This also allows students more time to concentrate on their training, and not their financial hardship. Prospective students should not be too quick to choose a school owned by a trucking company without first investigating the company and the school. Some companies require students to work for free loading and unloading trucks at their warehouses when not attending school. By no means should that be a requirement to be enrolled in their truckers’ course. Training providers that guarantee jobs after graduation are the ones guaranteed to help students meet their career goals as professional truckers. Choose a school with a good reputation based on their placement rate. If a school cannot provide that information, it isn’t worth considering. Besides passing the CDL test, students should expect to receive tuition in all aspects of the trucking industry that will enable them to be safe, competent and professional drivers. Students should expect to develop an in-depth knowledge of the trucking industry, and what is required to be a qualified truck driver. Reputable trucking driving school will provide adequate training facilities in a comfortable environment and location, with well-trained professional staff and certified instructors. Driving instructors should have at least three years of experience as licensed, successful tractor-trailer drivers with a good driving record, meet state requirements and school policy. Good schools will have state-of-the-art technology and equipment. This means a well equipped lab, good classroom facilities, and maintaining a fleet of late model tractor-trailers that meet state and federal safety requirements for use during training and road testing. Classrooms should have no more than 36 students per instructor. There should be no more than four trainees per truck. The training material should cover completely all the steps that the students need to take to be able to acquire the skills to safely and properly operate a tractor-trailer.
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