This course of instruction prepares individuals for careers as professional commercial truck drivers by providing them with a comprehensive training program composed of not only lectures but also on-road driving experience. This program provides instruction in the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and prepares students to pass the Texas Commercial Driver License (CDL) test. Graduates will back a truck, drive on city streets, secondary roads, and interstate and interstate highways. Graduates may find jobs as local truck drivers, delivery drivers and distribution and industrial truck operators.
After completing the Professional Truck Driver portion of this course and after the student obtains their CDL for the State of Texas, the student would then begin a 20-week externship at a qualified truck driving employer. Once assigned to the employer, the student must adhere to the employer’s rules and regulations to participate in this program. The student will directly report to that facility Monday through Friday for 40 hours per week. The student will be mentored by qualified Trainers in the industry and will experience the day-to-day operations in his/her future career. This externship provides each student firsthand knowledge of the Professional Truck Driver “world”. After completion of this externship, the student will have the knowledge and ability to go out and seek to be gainfully employed as a Professional Truck Driver.
Students will attend PTD-Day class Monday through Friday from 8:00 A. M. to 5:00 P. M. for approximately 5 weeks. A ten-minute break will be taken every hour and lunch will be from 12:50 P. M. to 2:00 P. M. Students will attend PTD-Evening class Monday through Friday from 5:00 P. M. to 9:00 P. M. and Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M. for approximately 7 weeks. A ten-minute break will be taken every hour and lunch on Saturday and Sunday will be from 11:50 A. M. to 1:00 P. M. Students will attend PTD-Weekend class Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M. for approximately 13 weeks. A ten-minute break will be taken every hour, and lunch will be from 11:50 A. M. to 1:00 P. M.
Extra/Make-up work will be performed Monday-Friday from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M and on Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
If an observed holiday falls on a school day or the school closes for an unforeseen circumstance, we will accommodate the day(s) by extending the last day of class to compensate the missed hours. Student Orientation is optional, and it will be held in our school on the Saturday prior to the first day of class (Monday) from 10 A. M. – 11 A. M. If an observed holiday falls on that day, Student Orientation will be held the Saturday before the initially scheduled day. If the school is closed due to an unforeseen circumstance, Student Orientation will be cancelled. The presentation will include school policies (satisfactory progress, attendance, materials and supplies, the grievance procedure) and an overview of the schedule as well as job opportunities.
Individuals applying for this course are required to:
Note: Some employers will require that all applicants must pass a drug test contingent to employment offer.
Professional Truck Driving (With Externship)
Subject # | Subject Title | Lec | Lab | Ext | Total | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTD 101** | Truck Driving Basic Application | 030 | 000 | 000 | 030 | 2.0 |
PTD 102** | Vehicle Operations | 020 | 020 | 000 | 040 | 1.5 |
PTD 103** | Maneuvers and Skills | 020 | 040 | 000 | 060 | 2.0 |
PTD 104** | Road Practice Driving | 010 | 060 | 000 | 070 | 2.5 |
PTD 1 | Profession Truck Driving Externship | 000 | 000 | 800 | 800 | 17.5 |
Total Hours for Program Completion | 080 | 120 | 800 | 1000 | 25.5 |
**One academic semester credit hour is equal to a minimum course time of 15 hours of classroom lecture, 30 hours of laboratory experience, or 45 hours of externship.
**Single sub0jects making up this program may be taken individually at a cost of $36.50 per course time hour. Entrance requirements for each single subject will demonstration of skills or completion of the prerequisite subject.
The approximate time required to complete this program is 5 weeks for day and evening students. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will receive a certificate of completion in Professional Truck Driving.