PTDI Recertifies Truck Driver Training School Courses Across the U.S. and in Canada

Alexandria, Virginia - The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) is proud to announce it has recently certified and recertified the truck driver training courses of 10 schools nationwide and in Canada.  A total of 61 schools now offer PTDI-certified courses in 28 states and Canada.

The schools, which have undergone an intense assessment of their program and facilities to obtain the course certification, are Albuquerque Technical
Vocational Institute (TVI), Albuquerque, New Mexico; Berks Career & Technology Center - Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Oley, Pennsylvania; College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, Maryland; Des Moines Area Community College/ Transportation Institute, Des Moines, Iowa; KRTS Transportation Specialists, Inc., Caledonia, Ontario, Canada; Mesalands Community College, Tucumcari, New Mexico; and Upper Bucks Area Vocational-Technical School - (Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Perkasie, Pennsylvania.  In addition, two truck driving courses received their first certification: Idaho Center for Professional Truck Driving, Nampa, Idaho, and Chester County Alliance at CAT-Pickering - Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.  And All-State Career, Lester, Pennsylvania, received an additional course certification.

Don Boyer, truck driving program director at TVI, has experienced the impact of the PTDI standardization process from different angles.  Previously
employed by a carrier that offered one of the first PTDI finishing programs, Boyer remembers recruiting from TVI, "because it had the only course in the area that was PTDI certified.

"I was already impressed with the program, but I'm even more so now that I'm behind the scenes," Boyer said.  "To actually see it in operation, see the lesson plan and the syllabus-the detail that is there-I'm more impressed because I see how it actually comes together and how the school holds to the program.  As a truck driver, there were a lot of things that I did naturally that I didn't even think about that go into this program."

An entry-level driver receives a significant amount of training through the PTDI course, Boyer said, and that makes it easier for him to show trucking
companies with high hiring standards that PTDI graduates meet their standards.  In addition to educating trucking companies about PTDI standards, Boyer helps PTDI graduates with placement and works with insurance carriers to help them recognize the value of this training. As for PTDI standards impressing students, Roxanne Wilkieson, administrator of the PTDI certification process at KRTS, says "PTDI certification sells the program to students.  They like that it's monitored and that we have to be responsible to someone.  That's what brings them through the door."

Savvy students already know they will be well trained through the PTDI program.  According to Gary Fedorcha, administrative director of the truck driving programs at all Lehigh schools, "When people come to us, they want to know if our courses are PTDI certified."  And before all Lehigh schools received PTDI course certification, "some students were willing to travel to our schools located at other sites just to receive that PTDI instruction," he says.

Those who might not yet be aware of the benefits of PTDI are learning fast. As Boyer explains, "We will tell students they will get a minimum amount of training elsewhere; here it will be long term so it can sink in, and we will work with their strengths and weaknesses.  Here they will come out with a
certificate that says 'you are head and shoulders above the rest.'" Ralph Dean, head of the program at Idaho Center for Professional Truck Driving, agrees.  "Our program is set up for the slowest learner," he explains.  "We offer a longer course than is required.  And our minimum requirement for instructors is 8 to 10 years' experience before hiring." Dean notes that prospective students often will call to compare the Idaho school with others in and outside the state.  And he believes that's a good thing.  "I absolutely think there ought to be requirements in everything, from driving to inhouse training."

PTDI is a national, nonprofit organization established for the twofold purpose of developing uniform industry skill, curriculum, and certification standards for entry-level truck driver training and certifying motor carrier driver finishing programs and entry-level truck driver training courses at public and private schools for compliance with PTDI standards.  PTDI is based in Alexandria, Virginia.

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