Stafford Technical Center

Courses

The Stafford Driver Training School program is designed to prepare students to meet the qualifications to become a qualified entry-level commercial truck driver. The program provides in-depth classroom instruction as well as range and road driving. Participants will learn basic operation, safe operating practices, vehicle maintenance, and non-vehicle activities such as cargo handling, trip planning, and customer relations.

Professional Truck Driver Training

Both the CDL-A and CDL-B courses begin with a prescribed number of hours of classroom instruction that includes defensive driving, logbook and hours of service, map reading and trip planning, vehicle inspection, vehicle familiarization, coupling and uncoupling, backing, and customer relation skills. After receiving your CDL permit, students are required to complete a prerequisite number of hours dedicated to in-the-truck-training. Yard and range work is designed to allow students to develop their driving skills in a controlled environment. These skills consist of:
Right and left turns

• Shifting skills
• Normal and panic stopping
• Alley dock
• Safe backing skills
• Conventional parallel parking

For more information about the CDL training programs at the Stafford Driver Training School contact program staff at (802) 770-1032.

Automobile Licensing

The Stafford Driver Training School will soon include two new instructors who will help inaugurate the automobile driver training program for adults later this fall. Stan Blicharz and David Potter, are both veteran driving instructors from two large Rutland County high schools but have recently earned their licenses to teach adults how to safely and effectively navigate the highways and byways of the Northeast and beyond. Both men will bring a love of teaching and driving to the classroom and Subaru Forester that will serve as the training vehicle for this next critical arm of the Stafford Driver Training School. The adult automobile driver training curriculum will consist of 12 classroom and 6 over-the-road hours after which time students can schedule a road test with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.

Educators and job training specialists alike are pleased that this opportunity has been developed to help adults who are limited in choices that are available to them in both areas due to a lack of public and personal transportation.

For more information about the automobile driver training program at Stafford Technical Center contact program staff at (802) 770-1178.

Vermont Motorcycle Awareness Program

The staff of the Stafford Driver Training School is pleased to announce that it has received final approval from the Vermont Agency of Transportation-Department of Motor Vehicles to officially offer the Vermont Motorcycle Awareness Program (VMAP) at Stafford technical Center. VMAP is a 4-hour basic motorcycle safety course for individuals interested in obtaining a motorcycle learner permit or endorsement. VMAP is designed to introduce new riders to basic information regarding the complexities of safe motorcycle operation.

Attendees successfully completing the VMAP course will be issued a Vermont motorcycle learner permit. Long-time certified motorcycle safety guru and instructor Susie Matthews brings her love of the road and passion for bikes to lead a course that will be offered every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m.- 9:30p.m. at Stafford Technical Center. So whether you are a seasoned rider, someone who has just upgraded to her first Harley, or have just been bitten by the bug for the first time, the Vermont Motorcycle Awareness Program will definitely help to make your ride through the Green Mountains of Vermont a safe and enjoyable experience.

For more information about the Vermont Motorcycle Awareness Program including a current schedule of workshops please contact program staff at (802) 770-1032 or visit the Vermont Agency of Transportation website at www.aot.state.vt.us.