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Baker College of Cadillac officials today announced that its truck driving certificate program has been granted recertification by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). Certification is valid for five years.

“Recertification by PTDI ensures that our students continue to receive training that is current, complete and applicable to the industry,” said Tim Baker, director of trucking at Baker College of Cadillac. “Our truck driving students stay ahead of the competition, as many carriers accept only graduates from a PTDI-certified program.”

The truck driving certificate program is offered at the Baker College of Cadillac Center for Transportation and Technology. The new facility, which opened fall 2010, is located at 4800 S. Morey Rd., halfway between Lake City and McBain. Baker’s truck driving program trains individuals for entry-level positions as local or long-distance drivers of tractor/trailers, heavy trucks, dump trucks and tankers. Courses are designed to prepare graduates to sit for Michigan’s Commercial Driver Licensing Class A examination.

“The employment outlook is good, as the nation depends on the trucking industry and the services that it provides,” said Baker. “According to labor statistics, there will be a 9 percent growth in truck driving jobs between 2008 and 2018. This represents approximately 291,000 new jobs.”

A first-year driver may earn, on average, $43,500 per year with benefits. PTDI-certified programs are currently offered at 67 schools in 29 states and Canada. Baker College is the only school in Michigan to offer the program. In addition to the Cadillac campus, Baker’s Flint and Port Huron campuses also offer PTDI-certified truck driving programs.

Initially PTDI-certified in 2005, the Baker College of Cadillac truck driving certificate program is offered during spring and fall quarters.

PTDI is a national, non-profit organization established for two purposes: 1) to develop uniform industry skill, curriculum and certification standards for entry-level truck driver training and motor carrier driver finishing programs, and 2) to certify entry-level truck driver training courses at public and private schools and driver finishing programs at carriers for compliance with PTDI standards.