The School Bus Safety Company (SBSC) announced it has updated and recreated its training course aimed at helping applicants pass the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) written test. The updated version is an interactive, video-based course.

Jeff Cassell, president of SBSC, said one major hurdle in hiring enough drivers is helping them pass the CDL written test.

Changes to the CDL Training Course

"This updated course will reduce the number of applicants lost due to the complexity of passing the CDL written test. It can take up to 20 hours of study for an applicant to pass this test and it is challenging and hard work. Consequently, many applicants drop out at this stage," Cassell explained. "With our new interactive video-based training course, we have reduced this training time to less than seven hours and made it far easier to learn.”

SBSC's original course was created more than seven years ago, and the company saw ways it could improve the course to make it more successful, Cassell said in a press release.

The company also updated the practice test questions to reflect the current testing. As trainees go through the training, they are repeatedly questioned on the subjects taught and corrected if they answer any questions wrong. In addition to the practice tests, questions are asked throughout the programs to help reinforce the required knowledge. Then, final practice tests prepare the trainee to pass the final exam.

The program includes 16 practice tests totaling more than 400 questions, presented in the same way the DMV testing is presented. After each test, the trainee is told their score, and has the ability to review the test, identifying where they may have answered questions incorrectly.

The course is available in hard copy on a USB flash drive or DVD, and contains nine interactive programs together with a trainer’s guide, a driver’s study guide, and a book of practice tests. The course is also available over the web through a learning management system.

"Driver shortages are a major issue for most districts and contractors. If we can help train more applicants into successful drivers, we will reduce this problem," Cassell said.