ATA endorses PTDI standards

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Feb. 13, 2003) — The American Trucking Associations has officially endorsed the objectives and curriculum of the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). ATA members unanimously supported the development of PTDI standards, enabling the institute to continue to enhance its pool of entry-level drivers to the industry.

With the news, PTDI has re-certified 12 training schools, including 5th Wheel Training Institute of New Liskeard, Ont. “We have continued to seek [PTDI] certification because we are dedicated to it,” Louise Philbin, program director and owner of 5th Wheel Training, said in a press release. She added that the standardization process has allowed the school to streamline its operations. “We have taken that PTDI model to our heavy equipment program,” she says. “And whenever we set up another program, we use this model.”

Don Bolinger, department chairman of Vincennes University Tractor-Trailer Driver Training in Indianapolis, Ind., said the process keeps schools accountable. “[The re-certification process] is good for a program because it kind of holds your feet to the fire … you have to verify everything you’ve done.”

Philbin believes the certification makes her school stand apart from a lot of competitors with improved job satisfaction and reduced turnover in the industry. But she adds, “We still have to work at educating people about it.”

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.


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