Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Penske Truck Leasing and Smith System Team Up For Exclusive Driver Safety Training Programs

Penske Truck Leasing announced it has teamed up with Smith System, the global leader in driver safety training

by Staff
March 19, 2009
2 min to read


Penske Truck Leasing announced it has teamed up with Smith System, the global leader in driver safety training.
This partnership is unique to the full-service truck leasing industry and provides Penske customers exclusive online access to E Learning truck driver safety training courses and related training materials.

"Working with Smith System will help enhance the safety and improve the fuel economy performance of our customers," said Jim Feenstra, senior vice president - marketing, Penske Truck Leasing. "These programs will also help ensure our customers can continue improving their operations in spite of a tough economy."

Penske's U.S. customers are now able to access these Smith System driver-safety training programs, including online and in-person training, and a wide selection of instructional safety-related DVDs, books, posters, and related materials. Penske customers access the Smith services as well as several other fleet management tools through MyFleetAtPenske, Penske's exclusive customer Web site.

"Smith System's unique partnership with Penske Truck Leasing gives us the opportunity to introduce our products and services to Penske customers through its extranet site and sales department," said Frank Powers, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Smith System. "Our training delivers proven results in reducing collisions and saving lives. This is another example that demonstrates Penske's commitment to driver safety and we look forward to serving their customers."

Smith System Driver Improvement Institute, Inc. was founded in 1952 as the nation's first fleet driver safety training organization with on-road, hands-on safety education techniques for experienced drivers. Smith System delivers behind the wheel instruction to more than 35,000 fleet drivers each year and has presented its program in 90 countries and in 21 languages. In the past decade, Smith has provided services to more than half of the current Fortune 500 fleets and is the only company in the industry that guarantees the quality of its training. In addition to its on-road training and extensive video and DVD library, the company offers E Learning courses and fleet monitoring. Visit www.Smith-System.com to learn more.

Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., headquartered in Reading, Pa., is a joint venture among Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Group and General Electric. Visit www.GoPenske.com to learn more about the company and its products and services.

More Safety & Compliance

Kodiak tractor-trailer on highway with insets of a weigh station sign and inside of a weigh station control room
Safety & Compliance•by News/Media Release•September 21, 2026

PrePass, Kodiak Connect Driverless Trucks to Roadside Enforcement

The system will allow enforcement agencies to verify Enhanced Inspection information and decide whether Kodiak’s autonomous trucks can bypass roadside screening sites.

Read More →
Photo of smiling truck driver Harold Perry with arms crossed in front of Southeastern Freight Lines truck
Drivers•September 17, 2026

From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers

After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Management•by Staff•September 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Presentation slide showing ZF's North American market growth
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•September 10, 2026

ZF Expands Commercial Vehicle Push in North America

ZF is expanding its North American commercial-vehicle presence with new transmission applications, electrification, trailer technology and autonomous-driving systems.

Read More →
Illustration with driver behind the wheel, an alert sign, and a laptop
Drivers•by Lauren Fletcher•September 9, 2026

Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert

Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.

Read More →
Tesla Semi electric truck with interior of Tesla Cybercab superimposed on top
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•September 8, 2026

Tesla Wants a Self-Driving Semi. Are Cameras Enough?

Could Tesla’s camera-only autonomous driving technology work on an 80,000-pound Semi? In this commentary, HDT's Deborah Lockridge takes a look at Tesla, Cybercab, and how autonomous trucks see the road.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage of five autonomous trucks
Safety & Compliance•by Deborah Lockridge•September 8, 2026

What DOT’s Automated Vehicle Strategy Means for Trucking

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new automated-vehicle strategy that outlines plans for driverless-truck regulations, cross-state freight corridors, and federal safety standards.

Read More →
Illustration of NYC skyline with speed limit sign and the major's order in the foreground
Safety & Compliance•by News/Media Release•September 4, 2026

NYC Expands Speed, Pedestrian Safety Tech Across Fleet

New York City is expanding intelligent speed assistance and pedestrian-alert systems across its municipal fleet, moving the technologies from pilot programs into vehicle procurement and retrofit requirements.

Read More →
Two men in jackets with Homeland Security indicated on the back, standing in a parking lot looking toward a building with trucks in front of it
Drivers•by Deborah Lockridge•September 1, 2026

FMCSA Removes 110 Truck Driver Training Schools from Certified ELDT List

Federal regulators also are targeting more than 160 additional training providers and launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers as part of a broader crackdown on trucking fraud.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Digital cover feature illustration showing truck inspector looking at trailer in background with the words "Compliance doesn't equal safety"
Safety & Compliance•by Deborah Lockridge•September 1, 2026

Beyond DOT Compliance: What Makes a Trucking Fleet Truly Safe?

A trucking fleet can follow every rule and still make unsafe decisions. The real test comes when safety conflicts with freight, productivity, or cost.

Read More →