Professional Truck Driver Institute
Encyclopedia
The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) is a non-profit organization that provides training courses for drivers of commercial motor vehicles. It was formed in 1986 during the standardization of commercial driver's licensing by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
in the United States. Its management was taken over by the TCA in 1996. PTDI is the first nonprofit organization to develop uniform skill performance, curriculum, and certification standards for the trucking industry and to award course certification to entry-level truck driver training courses and motor carrier driver-finishing programs.
PTDI is now working with NATMI, another non-profit transportation industry education institute.
tractor-trailer combinations. The certification courses are completed with the candidate's written and driving tests. Upon passing exams with the Department of Transportation
, both State, and Federally regulated in the USA, the successful candidate received a Class-A CDL, (Commercial Driver's License
), formerly known as a Chauffer's license.
In the United States, federal legislation was enacted to consolidate record keeping of the many different State's Department of Transportation
. During this time, debates continued on the need for an organization capable of training administration for commercial motor carrier safety. Created in 1986, PTDI is a non-profit charitable organization that is regularly tested by transportation officials for curricula proficiency and standards. Each candidate for licensing of the CDL classes are taught to familiarize themselves with local, regional, State, and National laws governing commercial motor freight.
Standardizing classes of commercial licensing were adopted by all states under federal acts. For example, in Texas, the former commercial class license called a "Chauffer" license was changed to the multi-class CDL, differentiating between Class A, Class B, endorsements, and the non-commercial Class C licenses.
, much of the focus on placement is in preventing repeat offenses. PTDI does not discriminate, although there is a personal expense for FBI background checks, and local DOT fingerprinting when the candidate wants certain endorsements with their CDL. PTDI offers an intensive safety indoctrination for all licensing candidates.
Future CDL
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration , established January 1, 2000, regulates the trucking industry in the United States. FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, DC and employs more than 1,000 people in all 50 States and the District of Columbia...
in the United States. Its management was taken over by the TCA in 1996. PTDI is the first nonprofit organization to develop uniform skill performance, curriculum, and certification standards for the trucking industry and to award course certification to entry-level truck driver training courses and motor carrier driver-finishing programs.
PTDI is now working with NATMI, another non-profit transportation industry education institute.
History and overview
The Professional Truck Driver Institute is a non-profit organization that offers a certification course in truck driver safety and behind the wheel training of commercial 18-wheelerSemi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
tractor-trailer combinations. The certification courses are completed with the candidate's written and driving tests. Upon passing exams with the Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
, both State, and Federally regulated in the USA, the successful candidate received a Class-A CDL, (Commercial Driver's License
Commercial driver's license
A Commercial Driver's License is a driver's license required in the United States to operate any type of vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 lb or more for commercial use, or transports quantities of hazardous materials that require warning placards under Department of...
), formerly known as a Chauffer's license.
In the United States, federal legislation was enacted to consolidate record keeping of the many different State's Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
. During this time, debates continued on the need for an organization capable of training administration for commercial motor carrier safety. Created in 1986, PTDI is a non-profit charitable organization that is regularly tested by transportation officials for curricula proficiency and standards. Each candidate for licensing of the CDL classes are taught to familiarize themselves with local, regional, State, and National laws governing commercial motor freight.
Standardizing classes of commercial licensing were adopted by all states under federal acts. For example, in Texas, the former commercial class license called a "Chauffer" license was changed to the multi-class CDL, differentiating between Class A, Class B, endorsements, and the non-commercial Class C licenses.
2006 Tougher Endorsement Qualifications and the PTDI
U.S. enactment of more stringent record keeping of candidates seeking commercial motor carrier endorsements for their CDL may come from statistics showing a significant percentage of PTDI certified drivers are being educated by rehabilitative services for convicted felon's prison release programs. Since rehabilitation into the community for individuals after being released from incarceration is a concern for social servicesSocial work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, much of the focus on placement is in preventing repeat offenses. PTDI does not discriminate, although there is a personal expense for FBI background checks, and local DOT fingerprinting when the candidate wants certain endorsements with their CDL. PTDI offers an intensive safety indoctrination for all licensing candidates.
Future CDLCommercial driver's licenseA Commercial Driver's License is a driver's license required in the United States to operate any type of vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 lb or more for commercial use, or transports quantities of hazardous materials that require warning placards under Department of...
Training
- PTDI focus on extensive safety training may require inclusion of more endorsement qualification training in the near future. Trends in DOTDepartment of TransportationThe Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
regulations are towards identifying individuals not qualified to operate commercial vehicles on public highways. In addition to the PTDI curriculum developed with the assistance of law enforcement, candidates for hire are subjected to medical examinations, random drug testing, random vehicle inspections, intermittent weigh station permitting, vehicle registration, and operator competence assessments. - It is within the technical ability of DOTDepartment of TransportationThe Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
to require GPS monitoring, breath analyzerBreathalyzerA breathalyzer or breathalyser is a device for estimating blood alcohol content from a breath sample...
engine start mechanisms, voice actuatedSpeaker recognitionSpeaker recognition is the computing task of validating a user's claimed identity using characteristics extracted from their voices .There is a difference between speaker recognition and speech recognition . These two terms are frequently confused, as is voice recognition...
mechanisms, DNADNADeoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
testing, retinal scanRetinal scanA retinal scan is a biometric technique that uses the unique patterns on a person's retina to identify them. It is not to be confused with another ocular-based technology, iris recognition.-Introduction:...
ning devices, operator/vehicle internment, personality assessments, and individual character profiling. - Although the current PTDI course is introductory, the institute's training requirements may change with the assistance of law enforcement, as future regulations are enacted.