The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) said Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb., has been added to the growing list of North American truck driver training schools offering PTDI-certified courses.

In addition, SAGE Technical Services, Caldwell, Idaho, and Vincennes University Tractor-Trailer Driver Training, Indianapolis, Ind., have received course recertification for five years.
Mayanne Turner, interim director of the Tractor-Trailer Driver Training program at Vincennes, said, "As a state university, our first motivation has always been to deliver quality training and PTDI curriculum is a ready-made source recognized by the federal government.
Even at a smaller college like Northeast Community, expectations can be high.
As Lyle Kathol, dean of Applied Technology at this midwest college, explained, "We're looking for credibility across the nation, because a truck driver can live anywhere, so we want to be sure our graduates can be employed anywhere they go. PTDI gives us that edge."
Northeast's program has grown from a one-truck instruction program in 1986 to a five-fleet operation in a new facility this year. Kathol said he hopes to use the PTDI certification as a marketing tool to increase enrollment and maintain quality standards.
Wayne Rogers, director of the driver-training program at SAGE Technical Services in southeastern Idaho, agrees that PTDI certification "reinforces" the quality of their curriculum.
Most of SAGE's instructors previously were owner-operators for years; one started driving in 1945 and, at 86 years old, is one of the oldest instructors in the driving training system. "Our instructors know what it takes to get the job done," Rogers said. "And PTDI helps us in that we know we have to cover certain areas. Our students feel confident when they leave here, and time and again they will return to say they're glad they came here and received a good education. We don't rush anybody along."
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 motor carrier driver finishing programs, and certifying entry-level truck driver training courses at public and private schools and driver finishing programs at carriers for compliance with PTDI standards. PTDI is based in Alexandria, Va.