The Wichita Area Technical College Commercial Driver Education program recently received certification from the Professional Truck Driver Institute for its truck driver training course.

Founded in 1986 as a national, nonprofit organization, PTDI worked with the trucking industry to establish standards that incorporate the Federal Highway Administration’s “Minimum Standards for Training Tractor-Trailer Drivers” and ensure that students are adequately trained to safely handle the demands of the truck driving profession.
Schools applying for PTDI course certification must undergo an onsite visit from an evaluation team that examines the school’s records and practices to verify compliance with the PTDI standards. A Certification Commission then reviews the results of the onsite visit and other supporting documents before certifying the program.
"Becoming certified though PTDI shows the trucking companies we care about the quality of drivers we train at WATC,” said Charles Mosqueda, WATC Program Specialist. “It also shows we believe in setting standards and encouraging our drivers to believe in themselves as professionals. Students leave our school knowing they had to meet the industry standards, and go forth committed to maintaining or exceeding those standards.”