The Truck Driving Refresher Program is designed for experienced drivers who want to strengthen specific driving skills or refresh their knowledge to improve safety, confidence, and overall driving ability. This program is ideal for individuals who have previously held a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) within the past several years and are seeking to regain their license or advance their existing skills. This is considered a novice-level refresher program tailored to individual experience and ability.

Training is delivered through a combination of classroom instruction, lab work, range practice, and real-world roadway driving. Instruction takes place in an individual or small-group setting, allowing students to receive personalized guidance from professional instructors. The curriculum focuses on inspections, vehicle operation, safe backing techniques, and on-road driving skills necessary for the safe operation of a commercial vehicle.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the skills required for safe commercial vehicle operation. Training includes all Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements, vehicle inspections, range exercises and backing maneuvers, road time with an instructor, control systems, shifting, coupling procedures, and trip planning.

Course topics include basic vehicle operation, safe driving practices, vehicle inspections, basic control skills, effective communication, vehicle systems and malfunction reporting, non-vehicle activities, and trip planning. The program is structured as a week-long course consisting of five (5) days of instruction totaling 40 hours, with classes meeting 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our daytime Truck Driving programs are mirrored after the Professional Truck Driving Institute (PTDI) standards.

To successfully complete the program, students must demonstrate competency in all required areas of training. Additional days of instruction are available at an additional cost for students who need extra time or support.

Our courses reflect real-world professional interactions that commercial drivers encounter daily, including communication with fellow drivers, dispatchers, shippers, mechanics, the general public, and law enforcement personnel. All FMCSA-required entry-level driver training materials are thoroughly covered.

Admission Requirements

To qualify for entry into the Truck Driving Refresher Program, students must meet all FMCSA requirements, including but not limited to:

  • Possession of a valid driver’s license
  • Ability to pass a DOT physical examination
  • Ability to pass a DOT drug test

Students pursuing or returning to a career in truck driving should also possess good dexterity, patience, self-discipline, maturity, and a good driving record. The ability to manage family, social, and company responsibilities unique to the trucking profession is essential for long-term success.