Commercial Driver License Class A (CDL-A) Course with Exams

In-Classroom Hours: 40/ Clinical Hours: 120
Retail Price: $4,800.00

General Information:

Call for details - Classes start soon!  Flexible schedules.

Course Overview:

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity—that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—exceeding 26,000 pounds. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.

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Course Objectives:

To provide safest and most thorough instruction and experience possible for successfully obtaining a CDL-A on the following:

• Orientation (includes drug screenings)
• Basic Operations
• Safe Operation Practices
• Advanced Operations
• Related Non-Driving Activities such as pre-trip inspections and how to properly document hours of service as required by law

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of course, student will be given Road Test by a state-certified third party examiner to obtain his/her CDL-A.

Requirement(s):

All commercial drivers (CDL holders) are required to meet certain medical requirements and have a valid Medical Examination Certificate.  Students must have this certificate prior to the beginning of class.   This certificate is kept on file with your license records at the DMV and you must keep a copy with you at all times while operating a commercial vehicle.  Many physicians and walk-in clinics can perform the physical required (similar to a sports physical) and issue these certificates/cards.  These cards do expire and must be renewed – the term of a cards expiry date is at the discretion of the issuing physician based on certain medical criteria but may not be valid beyond 24 months (2 years).  The cost of a medical exam varies by provider and insurance coverage but typically costs between $50 and $90.

Topics Covered:

Orientation (4 hours - classroom)

• Welcome
• Review facility policies
• Overview of program
  • Includes review of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) “Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) Program”
• Drug screenings performed

Logbooks (8 hours - classroom)

• Review of applicable current rules, laws, and requirements
• Logbook Example Exercises
• Create Student Logs (to be used throughout course)

Airbrakes (2 hours - classroom/driving pad)

• Review of structure and operations
• Instruction on proper inspection and adjustments

Pre-Trip Inspections (4 hours - classroom/driving pad)

• Review of practical standards on how to perform pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections
• Review of applicable current rules, laws, and out-of-service criteria

Basic Control & Operations (20 hours – classroom and 120 hours driving instruction/practical combination on road and on driving pad)

NOTE: 120 hours driving instruction/practical not reflected in hours listed below – classroom preparation time listed only!

Shifting – (1 hour – classroom)

• Review of shifting patterns
• Muscle memory exercises

Backing – (10 hours – classroom)

• Review of proper procedures for “Straight Line” backing
• Review of proper procedures for “Offset” backing
• Review of proper procedures for backing at loading docks
• Review of proper procedures for “dropping” and “hooking” a trailer

Review of safe operations (4 hours - classroom)

• Driver distractions
• Intersections & turns
• Road Signs
• Communications
• Speed Management
• Night operations

Defensive Driving – (4 hours – classroom)

• Additional review of safe operations
  • Following distance
  • Lane changes
  • Mirror adjustments
  • Rollover Prevention
• Review of tips and techniques on sharing the roadway with general motorists

Maps – (1 hours - classroom)

• Reading
• Trip planning

Road Test

Instructional Strategies:

• Lecture
• Skills Demonstration
• Group Activities
• Laboratory Experience
• Individual Activities

Methods of Evaluation:

• Quizzes & Exams
• Written Assignments
• Skills Demonstration

Instructor Biography:

Coming soon!

Grading System:

Student must pass all quizzes, exams, and national exam (if applicable) at a passing rate to be eligible for a Certificate of Training Completion. If an internship is included in your course you will be required to complete the internship prior to receiving a Certificate of Training Completion.

Attendance:

Students are expected to arrive on time and participate in course discussions. Successful completion of the course of study recommends 100% attendance. If during the course period the student’s attendance level drops below 80%, they will be encouraged and given the opportunity to attend the next scheduled class for the course they enrolled in. Should materials change, student is responsible for all additional cost.

Payment Plan Policy:

Students may withdraw from the program for any reason up to 1 week prior to the start of program. In this case, the student’s payment plan agreement shall be rescinded. If the payment plan has begun a non-refundable administrative fee of $25.00 will be assessed and remaining funds will be returned to payer in check form by mail.

No Refund Policy:

No refund for course, once the first class has been concluded. If extenuating circumstances exist, case by case situations will be reviewed by ProTrain. If refund is issued, refunded amount will be dependent upon books being returned in excellent condition (i.e. no writing, missing pages; ripped or damage to pages and/or binding).

Re-Admission Policy:

Any student who has dropped out of the program, or has been suspended from the program for nonattendance may be readmitted within one year by completing a personal interview with the director of education and paying any applicable fees at the time of readmission. Students who were terminated due to conduct issues are not eligible to be readmitted.

Policy on Student Conduct:

Appropriate Conduct: All students are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and professional manner. Any student not conducting themselves in an orderly and professional manner, which includes use of drugs and alcohol during school hours, dishonesty, disrupting classes, use of profanity, excessive tardiness, insubordination, violation of safety rules, improper usage of lab or classroom computers, or not abiding by the school rules will lead to either probation or dismissal from classes.