CLEVELAND — The School Bus Safety Co. has created a training course that is designed to help applicants pass the commercial driver’s license (CDL) written test.

The CDL Training Course is available in hard copy with eight interactive CDs, along with a trainer’s guide, a driver’s study guide, and a book of practice tests. The course is also available online through a learning management system.

Jeff Cassell, president of School Bus Safety Co., said that one of the benefits of the CDL course is helping school districts and contractors mitigate driver shortage.

“A major hurdle in hiring enough drivers is helping them pass the CDL written test,” Cassell said. “Many of our customers have been asking for help in reducing the number of applicants lost due to the complexity of the CDL written test. It can take between eight to 20 hours of study for an applicant to pass this test, and it is cumbersome and hard work. … With our new interactive CD-based training course, we have reduced this time to less than six hours and made it far easier to learn.”

One of the CDs includes 13 practice tests totaling 431 questions, which are presented in the same way as when the trainee takes the actual test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. After each practice test, the trainee is told his or her score and can then review the test.

“In creating this training course, we learned how complex the training and testing is,” Cassell added. “This [course] really is needed, and we hope to help many more interested applicants overcome this hurdle.”

Akron (Ohio) Public Schools is the first district to use School Bus Safety Co.’s CDL Training Course.

“We are impressed with the new course,” said Bill Andexler, coordinator of transportation for the district. “One of our onboard instructors is a former DMV written test site employee. He advised that this course has exceeded his expectations.”

For more information, go here.