The Professional Truck Driver Institute has certified the truck driver training programs of three more schools, re-certified another eight, and certified two more companies' driver finishing programs.

Merit Distribution Services of Temple, Texas, and U.S. Xpress of Chattanooga, Tenn., are only the second and third programs, respectively, to receive certification for driver finishing programs since the standards were developed in 1999.
The PTDI certification means that Merit Distribution Services, Inc., and U.S. Xpress have proven their tractor-trailer driver finishing programs meet the standards industry stakeholders developed to provide uniformity and improve the quality and performance of drivers industrywide.
The truck driver training schools receiving initial PTDI course certification are Big Rig Truck Driving School, Canton, Ohio; Crete Carrier Corp., Lincoln, Neb.; and Professional Driver Institute, Batavia, N.Y.
Courses at the following eight schools were re-certified: Center for Employment Education, Anchorage, Alaska; Central Tech Transportation & Safety Education, Drumright, Okla.; John Wood Community College, Quincy, Ill.; ProDrive of Maine, Scarborough, Maine; SAGE Technical Services, Billings, Mont.; Southern Missouri Truck Driving School, Malden, Mo.; Western Pacific Truck School, Everett, Wash.; and Western Pacific Truck School of Oregon, Portland, Ore.
The PTDI revised the certification process in 1998 to include revisions in skill standards, curriculum guidelines, and certification procedures. All stakeholders, including driver training schools, motor carriers, insurance companies, education and funding organizations, government and regulatory bodies, and drivers were involved in the extensive review. The revised certification process incorporates the Federal Highway Administration's "Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers" and includes an onsite evaluation team, which examines the school's existing standards, procedures, and practices. The Certification Commission then reviews the results of the onsite visit and other supporting documents before electing to certify the program.
PTDI is a national, nonprofit organization sponsored by the trucking industry.