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How Were the PTDI Standards Developed?
A. Entry-level Truck Driver Training Course Standards
When TCA assumed management of PTDI, in 1996 it knew that it had to invite all
the stakeholders in truck
driver training to become involved in the revitalization of the organization.
The stakeholders included schools, trucking companies, insurance companies,
drivers, funding organizations, and regulatory organizations. The standards
were developed with a four-step process.
1. November 11, 1996 -- Public Hearing, Washington D.C. Sixty (60)
organizations provided comment and forty (40) stakeholders attended the
meeting. The stakeholders were asked: (1) Do the current standards fairly
measure the quality of education and training for entry-level truck drivers?
(2) Does the current curriculum cover the skills, knowledge, and abilities
needed for adequately trained entry-level drivers? (3) Does the process fairly
address an evaluation of courses for the entry-level truck driver?
2. February 13-14, 1997 -- National Skill Standards Forum, Chicago, IL
Sixty-nine (69) carriers (both managers and high-performing drivers), insurance
and other industry representatives attended. The stakeholders were asked (1)
What does a driver need know? (2) What does a driver need to be able to do? and
(3) How well does the driver need to be able to do it? Drivers and managers met
separately and were asked to look at each skill in light of its importance,
frequency, and hours needed to master the skill. Product result: Skill
Standards for Entry-Level Truck Drivers
3. April 23, 1997 -- National Entry-level Truck Driver Curriculum Forum,
Chicago, IL
Seventy-eight (78) stakeholders attended. The stakeholders reviewed the
curriculum used to teach the necessary skills and knowledge for entry-level
truck drivers. The curriculum was built on the eleven years work of the U.S.
Department of Transportation, PTDI, and major carriers and schools. A second
smaller meeting was held June 19, 1997, with selected education stakeholders to
help refine the work of the April 23 meeting. Product result: Tractor-Trailer
Driver Curriculum Standard Guidelines; and
4. April 24, 1997 -- National Entry-Level Truck Driver Training Certification
Forum, Chicago, IL
Seventy- (70) stakeholder attended. The stakeholders reviewed the certification
factors: program administration; instructional personnel; training vehicles;
instruction; training time; student testing and student records. The group also
identified strategies for making the certification process more "user
friendly". In preparation for the meeting a survey regarding the certification
factors was sent to 300 stakeholder including, carriers, school, and insurance
companies. Product result: Standards and Requirements for Course Certification.
5. October 1997 -- January 1999 &endash; Beta Test of the PTDI Standards,
Nationwide
Sixty-two (62) schools applied for certification of their courses under the
beta-test standards. Results: As of January 21, 1999, 41 schools had received
certification or re-certification of their courses.
6. January 1999 -- Final Revisions of Standards
Approximately 150 of the original stakeholders who had participated in the
development of the standards were sent final minor revisions of the standards
for their vote. Results: Sent to PTDI Board of Directors.
7. January 24, 1999 -- PTDI Board of Director approved the standards
Result:
Note: Above standards are periodically reviewed and updated. Updates
resulting from a full review are noted as 3/10/03 as affected points in the
standards.
B. Carrier Driver Finishing Program Standards
When a student graduates from a PTDI-certified course he/she is considered a
"second seat" driver who has the knowledge and skill to operate a commercial
vehicle safely, but without supervision, and lacks the experience to perform as
a solo driver. He/she needs to be "finished" at the carrier. During this 4-6
week driver-finishing program, the student driver is further trained under the
supervision of a trained driver trainer. When he/she completes the
driver-finishing program he/she is a solo driver who can drive safely without
supervision.
Based on the stakeholder process for developing course standards for school
entry-level truck driving courses, PTDI invited carriers, schools, and
insurance companies to participate in the development of PTDI Driver Finishing
Standards. The meetings were held:
1. February 1999 -- Nashville, Tennessee -- National Forum -- 72
attended
2. June, 1999 -- Nashville, Tennessee -- National Forum -- 91 attended
3. September, 1999 -- Phoenix, Arizona -- Final Task Force -- 30 attended
4. November-December 1999 -- Standards were sent to 800 reviewers for comment.
5. January 2000 -- PTDI Board of Directors approved the standards
Result:
C. The Younger Driver Program Standards
Responding to a critical driver shortage and record low unemployment, the
Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) to test a new three-year pilot program designed
to train and place 18-20-year-olds as commercial interstate truck drivers. The
program contained numerous safeguards and imposed stringent eligibility and
performance standards on the students, the truck driver training schools, and
the motor carriers participating in the program. The safeguards built into the
pilot program included the right student selection and screening; the right
training; and the right evaluation and monitoring of the student and the
program. TCA commissioned PTDI to develop the standards for the program.
1. March 2000 -- National Forum on Younger Driver Standards
Twenty -seven (27) carrier training and safety managers, school representatives
with PTDI certified courses, and insurance representatives attended the forum
The participants used PTDI Standards and Requirements for Entry-Level
Tractor-Trailer Courses and the Certification Standards and Requirements for
Tractor-Trailer Driver Finishing Programs as a baseline for the development of
the Younger Driver Program Standards
2. April 2000 -- The standards were sent out for review to schools, carrier CEOs
and safety managers and insurance companies.
3. May 2000 -- PTDI Board of Directors approved the standards
Result:
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Younger Driver Program Standards that include: Program Standards, Skill
Standards for the Professional Solo Tractor-Trailer Driver and Curriculum
Standards.
TO ORDER A SET OF STANDARDS OR TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
To purchase the full text of the set of standards (including Skill, Curriculum,
and Certification) or to request an Application for Certification please click
below:
Standards/Application
Request Form (20K) 
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