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Vehicle operation, driving skills, trip planning and test preparation

The Commercial Vehicle Driving (CVD) Career Certificate (C.C.) program consists of four 80-hour courses totaling 320 hours. The first two-week course introduces students to the commercial driving industry. Students receive an overview to prepare for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) written examination required to obtain a Class A CMV Driver’s Permit. Subjects include combination vehicle operation and inspection, air brake component identification and an introduction to the various regulations governing commercial vehicle driving.

The second two-week course is a continuation of the first and includes instruction on vehicle design, inspection and preventative maintenance. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) Hours of Service, logbooks, map reading and trip planning are core elements of this two-week course. Students are also introduced to tractor-trailer operation through the use of a high-fidelity driving simulator.

Students then enter into a four-week block of instruction focused on fundamental and advanced driving skills, as well as vehicle inspection procedures. Students learn vehicle control skills including straight line and offset backing, parallel and alley docking. Students develop needed driving skills and vehicle control by means of urban, rural and expressway driving on public roadways throughout Northeast Florida. At the conclusion of the 320-hour program, a FDHSMV Third Party Tester tests students.

Upon successful completion of the FDHSMV test, students are eligible to receive their Class A Commercial Driver’s License.