eNewsletter Vol 13, No. 2 July 2025
TruckingBacksEnglishTestsasEnforcementBegins
TransportTopics
The trucking industry is voicing widespread support for the Trump administration’s directive to place truck drivers out of service if they fail to demonstrate proficiency of the English language during roadside inspections. The move is supported by evidence that suggests drivers who cannot read or understand English-language road signs present a potential threat to safety on U.S. highways.
Questions remain, however, about whether the rule effective June 25 will be easy to enforce.
Per Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Deputy Executive Director Adrienne Gildea, if an inspector believes that a driver does not understand his instructions, that inspector can conduct an interview to test the driver’s command of English and his or her understanding of road signs. Gildea expressed confidence that the 13,000 CVSA-certified inspectors will be ready for prime time in enforcing the new rule.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued advanced instructions for inspectors but redacted the information from public view to prevent drivers from having an advance look at the testing details.
Not a New Rule
The agency’s language-proficiency standard is not new; for decades it existed as an out-of-service violation. However, a guidance document was issued in June 2016 that removed out-of-service enforcement. “If the driver cannot read, write or speak English but can communicate sufficiently with the investigator, he or she should not be cited for a violation,” the guidance said. The revised directive said that if a driver can communicate sufficiently to complete the inspection or investigation, he or she should not be cited.
Attorneys and regulatory experts said there is room for interpretation with the new rule, opening the potential for challenges with enforcement.
“The regulation makes sense,” said Prasad Sharma, a partner in the trucking law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light Hanson & Feary. “But it’s fairly broadly worded. I think the concern is that the regulation is subjective. It’s not an objective standard. That leads to potential concern for uneven enforcement. Obviously, there’s going to have to be some training. The guidance was helpful, but there still are a lot of questions.”
Brandon Wiseman, a transportation attorney and president of Trucksafe Consulting said: “The problem is subjectivity. What one officer thinks is proficient, another officer may not agree. That’s the wild card on how this is going to play out.”
Trucksafe is run by transportation attorneys who have spent years assisting motor carriers with DOT regulatory compliance.
Two-Part Test
“To its credit, the FMCSA has tried to temper that concern by creating the two-part test: The officer conducts a driver interview and the second part is the sign recognition,” he added.
Wiseman said another issue is the lack of an apparent remedy for a driver taken off the road.
“You get put out of service. How do you get back into service? If my tire is flat, the way you get back in service is to fix the tire. But how do you get back into service for a lack of English proficiency? Presumably, you have to put a driver through some training.”
A Trucksafe survey of violations by state in the first four months of this year uncovered zero violations recorded for drivers lacking English proficiency in the border states of Texas and New Mexico, with only 13 in California and seven in Arizona. This indicates that states with potentially more bilingual inspectors may not be emphasizing issuing violations. By contrast, there were 339 violations issued in Tennessee and 274 in Pennsylvania.
“I think the regulation has the potential for subjectivity,” said Doug Marcello, a trucking attorney at Saxton & Stump, a law firm with office locations throughout Pennsylvania. “Whenever you are making a determination of the performance of something such as the ability to speak or understand the language, that can differ from person to person what they believe the level is.”
President’s Message
Donnie Tulk President, NAPFTDS
Hello,
I hope everyone is having a great summer thus far!
As we roll on through the summer, please remind your instructors and students to make sure they are keeping themselves hydrated! Heat exhaustion is a condition that happens when your body overheats. Heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, heat exhaustion is preventable by wearing loose fitting clothes, using sunscreen of at least SPF 15, and by drinking plenty of fluids.
Something else summer brings, is the deadline for former students that are veterans to be nominated for the Transition Trucking Award. The award is presented to a very deserving veteran who has entered into a career as a professional truck driver after attending a NAPFTDS or CVTA member school within the past year. Brad Bentley and the great folks at FASTPORT make this award possible each year by joining with Kenworth to give away a New Kenworth T-680. If you did not have a chance to nominate a former student this year, please consider nominating a student next year. It would be fantastic for an NAPFTDS school student to be presented with a brand new Kenworth truck again!
For more information about this award please visit https://transitiontrucking.org/
Thank you!
In This Issue ...
• Trucking Backs English Tests as Enforcement Begins.
• President’s Message
• Executive Director Report
• President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces National wide Audit of States Issuing Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses
• Coming Events
• 2025 Partnerships
• Committee Happenings
• Harriet Tubman Award (TAT)
• Regional Meetings information -ALL (1 & 2, 3 & 5, 4, 6 and 7)
• 2026 Nominations information
• 36th Annual NAPFTDS Conference, Ivins, Utah
By Martin Garsee
As I write this, we are in sweltering heat and humidity. Even up the east coast is very hot. I hope that you have some time to relax and recharge at some point over the rest of the summer. I am looking forward to a couple of weeks’ vacation in a cooler climate than Texas.
This fall will be a busy time for many of us as we start a new school year, what will our budget look like, how will enrollment be, and many other questions to answer. One thing I hope that you have planned for this fall is to attend a regional meeting in areas across the United States. You are more than welcome to attend more than one if you wish. Here is the link with all the information, more will be added as it becomes available. https://napftds.org/events/category/regionals/. Please invite schools that are a potential member to attend our regional meetings. It is a good time for them to meet with likeminded folks and network with people that are working in the same industry as they are.
Our goal for this year is to increase our membership, training providers, associate, and affiliate members. I am excited what the membership committee has been working on to push this forward. Also, Tina Frindt, long time member of NAPFTDS, is now concentrating on membership, new and retention, in addition to her other duties. Tina, I am glad to have you working with us in this capacity.
Our efforts combined with CVTA are finally seeing movement on the Training Provider Registry (TPR). Schools that should not be on the TPR are now being removed and the list of removed providers is growing. Thanks to Patrick Nemons, FMCSA Director, Office of Safety Programs, working to move the TPR in the right direction. We want students to be trained correctly, safe roads, and no shortcuts in training.
Have a safe and happy summer, enjoy family time and time with friends. Please reach out if there is anything we can help you with. See you this fall and next spring in Utah.
Coming Events ...
• 2025 Regional Hosts:
Region 3 & 5: September 7-9, 2025 Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
Region 7, September 17-19, 2025, Cecil College, Elkton, MD
Region 6: October 19-21, 2025, Marion Technical College, Ocala, FL
Region 4: November 16-18, 2025, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS
Region 1 & 2 , January 29-30, 2026, Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ
• 2026 NAPFTDS 36th Annual Conference, April 12-15, 2026, Black Desert Resort, Ivins, UT
TruckingBacksEnglishTestsasEnforcementBegins
TransportTopicsContinuedfrompage1
Brenna Lyles, senior director of safety policy for American Trucking Associations, said, “It’s a difficult thing for inspectors to apply evenly across states. When this was an out-of-service violation prior to 2016, that was the main reason it ended up being taken out as an out-of-service violation it’s just difficult to enforce.”
ATA supports the revised standard.
In some states, drivers can still take their written CDL test in their native language, but they are not permitted to use their native language for the CDL driving test, Lyles said.
“FMCSA has been clear that they’re not expecting that drivers are fluent in English,” Lyles said. “They’re looking for a level of proficiency that allows them to ensure safety and be able to communicate with officers as well as the motoring public in situations where it’s necessary.”
Lyles noted that while the updated directive has better standardization than the Obama-era guidance that was paused, there still is room for interpretation.
“There’s just no way for every single officer to use the same criteria or judgment,” she said.
As for follow-up measures, Lyles said that if a driver fails the test and is placed out of service, he or she can study and better prepare for a subsequent test. But a second failure could create hefty fines or result in a loss of a driver’s CDL, depending on a driver’s state of domicile.
Drivers who fail the proficiency test still can drive in border states’ free commercial zones. Failure of the test in those areas can result in citations, but not in an out-of-service penalty.
President Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. DuffyAnnounces NationwideAudit of States Issuing Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver's Licenses
WASHINGTON– U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is launching a nationwide audit into state practices in issuing non-domiciled Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs), specifically reviewing the potential for unqualified individuals obtaining licenses and posing a hazard on our roads. This action responds directly to a key directive from President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order on Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers and is part of Secretary Duffy’s commitment to safety.
“The open borders policies of the last administration allowed millions to flood our country – leading to serious allegations that the trucking licensing system is being exploited. Today, we are launching a nationwide audit to get to the bottom of this,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Our audit is about protecting the safety of families on the road and upholding the integrity of CDLs held by America’s truckers. Every state must follow federal regulations, and ensure only qualified, properly documented drivers are getting behind the wheel of a truck.”
USDOT has directed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to conduct a nationwide compliance review of states issuing non-domiciled CDLs. The review will examine state procedures for issuing non-domiciled CDLs to identify and stop any patterns of abuse and ensure federal standards are being met across the country.
The U.S. Department of Transportation remains committed to supporting America's truckers, who work every day to keep our nation’s economy moving.
2025 GOLD PARTNERS
Doron Precision Systems, Inc.
Kelly Anderson Group
TMC Transportation
Virage Simulation
2025 SILVER PARTNERS
Advanced Training Systems
Bumper-to-Bumper-Easy CDL
CDL Powersuite
Covenant Logistics
Driver iQ
Drivers Legal Plan
FASTPORT
J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Driver Training Solutions
Melton Truck Lines
Roehl Transport
Ruan Truck & Trailer Sales
Schneider
Seaboard Foods LLC
Simulator Systems Int’l
Stevens Transport
The Trucker Media
Transforce Group
Werner Enterprises
Committee Happenings …
Want to be a part of a working committee, please contact Crissie Moffet, cmoffet@napftds.org.
Carrier-Celeste Turner, Chair. Members: David O’Leary, Cheryl Freauff, Jim Ward, Tony Diaz, Jamey Moon, Jeff Foster, Cindy Foster, Tim Norlin and Betsy Waldrop. Celester Turner is the new Chair of the Carrier Committee. A report for trucking companies is being drafted to identify their information needs regarding hiring students. A release is also being worked on for sharing student grades and attendance, keeping FERPA in mind, as well as a release of progress sheets for potential hiring. As we go into 2025, the carrier outreach committee remains optimistic, with the expected increase in freight demand we expect to see an increase in carrier membership.
Conference/Nomination-Martin Garsee, Chair. The Committee has signed a contract for the 2026 36th Annual Conference to be held in Ivins, Utah Black Desert Resort, April 12-15, 2026. So SAVE THE DATE! Any ideas for speakers or presentations for 2026, please email Crissie Moffet, cmoffet@napftds.org
Education-John Thorpe, Chair. The Education Committee had a great session on ‘Best Practices’ and ‘Driver to Educator’ on Monday Morning at the beginning of the conference. There was lots of great discussion and John Thorpe is hoping that attendees will follow-up on his request. Soon, access to responding to the questions will be available to the members. The plan is to continue working on the shared training documents for new instructors in Driver Training, ensuring a standardized approach to instruction across the industry. If you have any interest in being on the Education Committee, please contact John Thorpe, john.thorpe@centraltech.edu or Crissie Moffet cmoffet@napftds.org
Finance Rob Behnke, Chair. The Finance Committee has been diligently working through the finer details of our budget and business model. Many exciting developments have been discussed, and several changes are in the works. These adjustments are designed to position NAPFTDS for a strong and resilient future, equipping us to effectively embrace new opportunities as they arise.
Marketing/Social Media-Bill Buechel, Chair. The marketing committee has spent the last several months working to help improve our ability to show NAPFTDS’s value to potential new members as well as existing ones. We started by creating a new logo with a fresh new look. We then put that logo to good use by updating our marketing brochure. Lastly, we enlisted some outside help to bolster our social media presence in the months leading up to the conference. Much of these posts focused on the theme of “Legacy to Lift off”. All of this work was highlighted during a presentation created by Deborah Quackenbush from Virage Simulation. During conference, we added two new members to the marketing committee. Welcome Marilyn Surber from Drivers Legal Plan and Richard Blinkovitch from Doron Precision Systems!
Please remember to like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NAPFTDS and Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/ company/national-association-of-publicly-funded-truck-driving-schools/
Membership-Dan Zdrojewski, Chair. As Chair of the Membership Committee, I’m pleased to report steady progress in strengthening engagement across our membership base. Through a series of committee meetings, we’ve focused on tracking membership data, reviewing member participation, and implementing targeted outreach strategies for both retention and recruitment. Our efforts include personal follow-up with lapsed members, refining messaging for prospective institutions, and ensuring that new members are welcomed into our organization with clarity and connection.
To support these initiatives, we’ve implemented a tracking system to monitor member demographics, renewal activity, and outreach outcomes, providing us with better insight to guide future efforts. Looking ahead, we plan to launch a targeted campaign tied to upcoming NAPFTDS events, expand our tracking to include engagement metrics, and collaborate across committees to amplify our message. Thank you for your continued support in building a more connected and vibrant NAPFTDS community.
Regionals-Missy Blair, Chair. The Regional hosts for 2025 are: Region 1 & 2 January 29-30, 2026, Pima College, Tucson, AZ; Region 3 & 5 September 7-9, 2025, Metropolitan Community College/Werner Enterprises, Omaha, NE; Region 4 November 16-18, 2025, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS, September 17-19, 2025, Region 7 Cecil College, Elkton, MD. This issue of the Learning Curve is ALL ABOUT the regional meetings. Any questions, please contact Missy Blair mlblair@pima.edu or Crissie Moffet at cmoffet@napftds.org, 316-425-3297.
Regulatory-Jill Schultz, Chair. The regulatory committee informs members of changes and proposed changes to laws, regulations, and policies related to truck driver training. The following are highlights for January 2025 through June 2025.
TPR update. FMCSA is actively updating the TPR’s “List of Removed Providers” and “List of Training Providers Issued a Notice of Proposed Removal.” This includes emergency, involuntary, and voluntary removal of ELDT providers from the TPR.
English proficiency. As of June 25, 2025, English Language proficiency is included in CVSA’s Out-of-Service Criteria. FMCSA has issued guidance, intended to assist motor carriers in assessing a driver’s English language proficiency. The guidance may be accessed via FMCSA’s website.
ATRI and ELDT research. ATRI plans to conduct a study to determine the impacts of ELDT on safety outcomes. The new research will build on a previous study of the relationship between driver training curricula and safety outcomes.
HARRIET TUBMAN AWARD
Do you know someone who should win TAT’s Harriet Tubman Award?
Each year, TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking) presents its most prestigious award – the Harriet Tubman Award – along with a $5,000 check and a trophy to a member of the trucking, bus or energy industry whose direct actions have either helped save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevented human trafficking from taking place.
Do you know someone who deserves to win this award? If so, check out the nomination process for the award now.
TAT created the award in 2013 and named it to honor famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, whose courageous personal actions resulted in the transportation of 300 slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad and whose overall role in the freedom movement was instrumental in the freeing of thousands more. Born into slavery in 1820, Miss Tubman was the first African American woman buried with full military honors and the first to have the inaugural Liberty ship named after her – the SS Harriet Tubman – by the U.S. Maritime Commission.
The Harriet Tubman Award was presented for the first time the following year to a travel plaza general manager in Washington. You can read the stories of all the past winners here.
Bus
Kirk Rayner, Nicole Cavicante, Laura Figueroa, 2022 Harriet Tubman Award winners
Later in the same year that staff and drivers of EMBARK, the Oklahoma City transit authority, received TAT training, an EMBARK bus driver picked up a passenger in distress and turned his training into action. Engaging the wounded, dirty, disheveled and crying passenger in conversation, driver Kirk Rayner learned she was running away from “bad people” and believed they were tracking her. When he arrived at the transit center, he contacted his route supervisor, Nicole Cavicante, who listened to the trembling woman describe being transported state-to-state by people who were controlling her. The passenger said she was trying to get somewhere safe. Cavicante contacted driver Laura Figueroa, EMBARK’s dedicated employee contact with the Palomar Family Justice Center, an organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Figueroa helped make the woman feel safe and learned additional information indicating woman was likely a victim of sex trafficking. Figueroa transported her to Palomar where staff gave her food, conducted and intake and coordinated next steps with law enforcement and a shelter.
Trucking
Joe Aguayo, 2023 Harriet Tubman Award winner
WinCo Foods began rolling out TAT training in 2022. Later that year, after seeing a woman with a shaved head, clad only in a towel, standing along a remote stretch of mountainous highway, Joe Aguayo, a WinCo Foods driver, made a call alerting police. His call resulted in the recovery of a trafficking victim. Law enforcement reported this to be the second Indigenous human trafficking victim found naked in this area, and they believe the remote location, coupled with limited access to cell service, has made the area a dumping ground for perpetrators. The trooper told Aguayo that he likely saved the woman’s life.
Travel Plaza
Charles Bernsen, 2024 Harriet Tubman Award winner
Charles Bernsen, general manager of the Petro in Florence, South Carolina, noticed a distressed young woman hanging around the travel plaza store he was managing. She would disappear for periods of time into the restroom but then reappear in the lobby area. After repeatedly seeing her for a couple days, Bernsen approached her and asked if she needed help. She burst into tears, telling him she’d escaped a man who’d been holding her captive in a hotel where he’d been selling her for sex. Bernsen offered her food, clothing, a blanket and information about TAT. He had her call the National Human Trafficking Hotline and speak with them and then purchased a bus ticket for her to get home and provide money for expenses along the way.
PimaCommunityCollege
Region 1 & 2
January 28-30, 2025
Region 1 & 2 is planning on a reception on Wednesday, January 28 at 5 p.m.; with a full day of presentations and networking Thursday, January 29; followed by a half day of the same on Friday, January 30. Please see a draft of the agenda in this Learning Curve.
Pima Community College is hoping that everyone will take a ‘warm’ break and join us. Also, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, which is the world’s largest gem show, is happening during these meetings. Hope to see you there!
PimaCommunityCollege
Region 1 & 2 Meeting
Hosted by Pima Community College 6575 S Country Club Rd
Tucson, AZ 85756
January 28-30, 2026
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
5:00 p.m. Reception
Thursday, January 29, 2026
8:00 – 8:30 Registration/Networking
8:30 – 8:45 Welcome and Introductions ~ Missy Blair
8:45 – 9:45 NAPFTDS Updates ~ Martin Garsee, Executive Director
9:45 – 10:45 CDL Updates
10:45 – 11:00 Break/Vendor
11:00 – 12:00 Session - TBD ~
12:00 – 1:15 Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 Autonomous Technology Conversation: Where we’ve been, where we are, where we are going …
2:15 – 3:30 Industry Issues – Open Discussion ~ Missy Blair, Facilitator
3:30 – 4:00 Question and Answer - Wrap up for the day 5:00 Dinner
Friday, January 30, 2026
8:30 – 9:30 Session - TBD
9:30 – 11:00 Open Industry Discussion
11:00 – 11:30 Wrap up / Closing Thoughts
Agenda is subject to change by Pima Community College.
Sponsors
Region 1 & 2
Region 3 & 5 Meeting
September 7-9, 2025
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, Nebraska invites you to the Region 3 & 5 Annual Conference September 7th – 9th .
We will start off taking some time catching up with old friends and making new friends with a social hour or two Sunday night September 7th at the Courtyard Omaha/LaVista with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar from 6 pm to 8 pm.
On Monday morning, MCC will provide transportation from the Courtyard Hotel to our Fort Omaha Campus where we will have a light, but delicious breakfast at our state-of-the-art Institute for Culinary Arts. We will continue after breakfast with a presentation from one of MCC’s finest instructors on what other skills our students need to be successful in the transportation business besides driving skills. Bellevue University’s Director of the Military Veteran Services Center, JR Richardson will visit with us about some of the struggles our brave veterans face when hitting the road. He will be giving us ideas on how to better prepare them. He will be bringing with him a nutrition specialist that will give us ideas on how to keep our students healthy once they begin their careers. The Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division will be lending us their own Sgt Matt Guzman who has a fairly unique perspective from the state side of things having served over 10 years with the division. He currently ensures the data quality of inspections and crash records involving commercial motor vehicles and he receives ALL of the states DataQ’s so he is will versed on the things that happen in Nebraska and fields questions from Troopers and people in the industry on current guidance from FMCSA and CVSA. You will also get to meet and hear from Nebraska’s own Kent Grishom, President of the Nebraska Trucking Association.
We will wrap things up on Monday with a quick tour of MCC’s Applied Technology Center which houses the CDL Program. After a short bus trip back to the hotel, get ready for something a little bit different. We will be dining at the Smash Park! There will be a laid-back dinner with an impressive taco bar and a lot of fun with axe throwing and darts.
On Tuesday, we will be transported to Werner Enterprises for a presentation from the ATA and a viewing of their Workforce Heros truck and trailer.
See you in September!!!
Lodging: Courtyard Omaha/LaVista, 12560 Westport Pkwy, LaVista, NE 68128 $105/night
Link to Hotel: Book your group rate for NAPFTDS Conference 2025 Group code: NAP
If prefer to call hotel, please use 402-339-4900 and reference the NAP code
REGION 3 & 5 MEETING
Hosted by Metropolitan Community College September 7-9, 2025
(Agenda is Subject to change by MCC)
Sunday, September 7, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Welcome Meet & Greet Social (Courtyard Omaha/LaVista, 12560 Westport Pkwy)
Monday, September 8, 2025
7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Transportation from Courtyard Omaha/LaVista to Metropolitan Com College Fort Campus (5370 N. 30 St Bldg. 22 Omaha, NE 68111)
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast at the Institute for Culinary Arts at MCC
8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Meeting Kickoff and Intro from MCC
~ Scott Broady, Dean of Skilled Trades & Technical Sciences
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. How Learning Works for CDL Students (Soft skills and professional skills)-MCC Instructor
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. BREAK / VENDORS
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Nutritional & Physical Health of Tomorrow’s Drivers-Bellevue University Professor
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Veterans in Trucking (Mental Health, Anxiety, PTSD, Disabilities)
~ JR Richardson, PMA, CPSWS
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.Lunch at the Institute for Culinary Arts @ MCC
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement (State Patrol, FMCSA, CVSA info)
~ Sgt Matt Guzman
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Nebraska Trucking Association
~ Kent Grishom
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. NAPFTDS Update
~ Martin Garsee/Rob Behnke
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Transportation to MCC’s Applied Technology Center (10407 State St, Omaha, NE 68122)
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Tour Applied Technology Center
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Transportation to Hotel
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Dinner at the The Smash Park (8121 S. 125st LaVista, NE 68128)
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
7:45 – 8:00 a.m. Transportation to Werner Enterprises (14507 Frontier Rd, Omaha, NE 68128)
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Networking at Werner
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. ATA Workforce Heroes
9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Tour Werner Enterprises
12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Farewell and Transportation back to the Hotel
Sponsors
Region 3 & 5
Region 4 Meeting
Hosted by Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210 November 16 18, 2025
”Join us this November in Overland Park for the NAPFTDS Region 4 Meeting hosted by Johnson County Community College. Connect with other programs in the region, see old friends, share ideas, and learn what’s new in the industry. You can look forward to great food, informative sessions, and a fun atmosphere in the heart of the Midwest.”
LODGING:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kansas City/Overland Park
10100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Cost is $145 a night and breakfast is included. Block deadline is October 20, 2025 Link https://group.doubletree.com/5daijh
Region 4 Meeting
Hosted by Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
LODGING: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kansas City/Overland Park 10100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
November 16-18, 2025
Sunday, September 16, 2025
6:00-8:00 pm Meet & Greet Reception at DoubleTree, 10100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS
Monday, September 17, 2025
7:30-8:00 Breakfast at DoubleTree Transportation to JCCC
8:15-9:00 Welcome and Introductions Kick off
~ Nick Gonzalez
9:00-9:30 NAPFTDS Update
~ Martin Garsee, Executive Director & Director, HCCS, Houston, TX
9:30-10:00 Vendor Recognition
~ Nick Gonzalez
10:00-10:15 Break and Vendors
10:15-10:45 KMCA Presentation
~ 10:45-12:00 FMCSA Presentation
~
12:00-1:00 Lunch provided by JCCC Catering
1:00-2:00 KDOR State CDL officials
~
2:00-2:15 Break and Vendors
2:15-3:15 Johnson County Community College CDL Facility Tour
3:15-4:15 Industry Tour TBD
4:15-5:00 Transportation
6:00 p.m. Reception and Dinner (KC Joe’s BBQ – The 180 Room 11944 S. Strang Line Rd, Olathe, KS 66062)
Tuesday, September 18, 2025
8:30-9:30 Breakfast at DoubleTree Transportation to JCCC
9:30-11:00 NextGen Trucking 11:00 Wrap up and Farewell
Agenda is subject to change by Johnson County Community College.
Sponsors
Region 4
Region 6 Meeting
October 19-21, 2025
Marion Technical College will host the Region 6 meeting of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS), bringing together CDL educators and industry partners from across the region.
The event will focus on key updates to FMCSA regulations, instructional best practices, and strategies to meet the increasing demand for skilled professional drivers. Attendees will collaborate on curriculum development, student engagement techniques, and effective training methods to enhance classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.
The meeting will also emphasize the importance of safety compliance and explore new ways to prepare students for both CDL testing and real-world driving challenges.
Comfort Inn, 1212 S Pine Ave, Ocala ,FL
352-629-7300 Room Rate TBD
REGION 6 MEETING
Hosted by Marion Technical College
1014 SW 7th Rd, Ocala, Florida
October 19-21, 2025
Sunday, October 19, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Welcome Meet & Greet Social
Monday, October 20, 2025
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast and Registration
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks from Marion Technical College
~ Richard Monroe, Earl Scott and Gary Smallridge
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. NAPFTDS Welcome & Update
~ Martin Garsee, Executive Director, NAPFTDS
9:30 – 9:45 a.m. BREAK
9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Training Students with disabilities
~
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. FMCSA Update
~
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. AAMVA Update
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. TBD
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Vehicle Inspections from the Florida Highway Patrol’s Perspective ~Sgt. Casey Moore, Florida Highway Patrol
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Dinner
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Networking
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Truckers Against Trafficking ~
9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Break
9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Industry Roundtable – Instructors
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Industry Roundtable - Carriers ~ Roundtable participants
11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Wrap up and Closing
Have a safe trip home!
*Agenda is subject to change by Marion TC.
Sponsors Region 6
Region 7 Meeting
September 18-19, 2025
Cecil College is proud to host the Region 7 NAPFTDS Conference through its renowned Truck Driver Training program. As an inclusive, open-access institution, Cecil College is dedicated to academic excellence and committed to serving a diverse student population. The College offers a supportive learning environment where students are empowered to succeed academically, transfer to four-year institutions, and enter the workforce with confidence. Beyond academics, Cecil College enriches lives through lifelong learning, the arts, and strong community engagement. The upcoming conference promises to deliver valuable insights for trucking instructors, focusing on elevating teaching skills and addressing evolving student needs. Attendees will benefit from sessions led by industry experts on topics such as adapting to changing learning styles, supporting recently incarcerated students, and enhancing programs through financial literacy education.
The meeting will take place on:
September 18, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
September 19, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Cecil College, 1 Seahawk Dr. North East, MD 21901
As an inclusive, open-access institution committed to academic excellence and serving a diverse student population, Cecil College is excited to welcome trucking educators and industry professionals for two days of collaboration, insight, and professional development.
This year’s conference will focus on elevating instructional practices, with sessions designed to help educators adapt to changing learning styles, support formerly incarcerated students, and incorporate financial literacy education into CDL programs.
Comfort Inn & Suites
1 Center Drive, North East, MD 21901
1/410-656-8807
check inn Wed Sept 17 3 p.m.
Check out Sept 19 11 a.m.
Grp Name Reg 7 Conf NAPFTDS
Grp Number KT39J4
Room rate TBD
All rooms must be booked before Wednesday Sep 3, 3025. After this date, group room block is released to the general public and will no longer have access to the special group rate.
Region 7 Meeting
Hosted by Cecil College
1 Seahawk Dr., Bldg D Tech Bldg North East, MD
September 18-19, 2025
AGENDA
Thursday, September 18, 2025
7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast at the hotel
8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Networking
9:00 – 9:45 Welcome Remarks
~Cecil College and NAPFTDS Representatives
9:45 – 10:15 Strategies for Assisting Individuals in Reintegrating Post-Incarceration
~Melissa Mey, Dir. of Substance Abuse Serv., Harford County Detention Center
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 11:30 NAPFTDS Update
~Martin Garsee, Executive Director/Donnie Tulk, President
11:30 – 12:00 Train the Trainer
~ Tina Durborow, Cecil College
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 Understanding Learners in the Age of Rapid Technology and Social Media
– How Learners Today Present Differently and How to Help them Succeed
~ Meredith Lutzstehl, Cecil College
1:30 – 1:45 Meet the bus for tour
1:45 – 3:30 Tour of Allen Myers Quarry – meet at the bus
6:00 p.m. Dinner
Friday, September 19
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast at the hotel
9:00 – 9:30 Driving Workforce Development: Education Meets the Transportation Industry
~ Louis Campion, Maryland Motor Truck Association
9:30 – 9:45 Break
9:45 – 11:30 Forum Discussion & Sharing
~ College Representatives: Please bring at least one example of a practice at your institution that supports instructor success.
11:30 – 12:00 Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks Agenda subject to
Sponsors
Region 7
NAPFTDS 36th Annual Conference
April 12-15, 2026
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
WELCOME TO BLACK DESERT RESORT
Remarkable Within Reach
Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind destination nestled amongst the ancient lava fields and vibrant vermillion cliffs of Greater Zion. Where the breathtaking intersection of the Colorado Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin combines with unparalleled hospitality and amenities. Spanning 600 acres of scenic desert landscape, our newly built luxury resort offers nearly 800 guestrooms and luxury suites. Indulge in diverse dining options, year-round outdoor recreation, and world-class spa facilities. All anchored by a 19-hole Tom Weiskopf signature championship golf course, Black Desert Resort provides the ultimate escape from everyday life.
NAPFTDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025
Lesley
2026 Board Nominations:
In 2026, terms of two full member directors will expire (Lynette Cervantes and Nikole Willing). These two positions have terms of three years and are voted on by the membership as a whole (Full and Associate members only). There are also two Associate members Lesley Vincent Carrier Board member and Jill Schultz, Vendor Board members are terms are 3 years. There are two Executive Directors whose terms are expiring: Secretary-John Thorpe and Treasurer-Rob Behnke. Voting members must be in good standing. For a candidate to be considered, the candidate’s organization’s membership dues must be current and have been a member a minimum of one year. Executive Board members must comply with Article VII Section 1. The nominees for the executive director positions of Secretary and Treasurer are to have been a board member in the past.
All Nominees must be in good standing. Nomination forms are due by End of Business (EOB) January 30! Nomination forms are available on the website or contact Crissie Moffet, cmoffet@napftds.org or call 316-425-3297 to receive one!
Would you like to advertise in our eNewsletter, the Learning Curve? You do!
Then please give Crissie Moffet a call/email 316-425-3297 / cmoffet@napftds.org.
The National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS) is an organization for the promotion of public education for the transportation industry. Through membership, educators can network with other truck driving schools across the country to provide the highest quality, most cost-effective, and up-todate training available.
Contact us:
Martin Garsee, Executive Director, NAPFTDS Martin.garsee@hccs.edu 713-718-8203 (O) 713-304-8324 (M)
Rob Behnke, Treasurer, NAPFTDS rob.behnke7787@fvtc.edu 920-996-2889 (O)
Tina Frindt, Finance/Technical Assistant tfrindt@napftds.org 570-688-5710 (M) Membership membership@napftds.org
Crissie Moffet
Administrative Assistant to the Board cmoffet@napftds.org
Mission Statement
The National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, Inc. is an organization established for the promotion of safety, professionalism and quality education within the transportation industry.
Members,
As we move forward with our website, please check on your school information.
If you find an error, please contact Crissie Moffet by email, cmoffet@napftds.org, so that it can be corrected.
Thank you for your assistance.
Crissie Moffet
Facts for your information:
Membership is a calendar year.
Invoices come out between November January.
An ID and password are necessary for the website’s Resources section.
Regional meetings are between August-December.
Annual Conference is between end of March and First of May.
2025 New Members ...
Full Members
• Gateway Technical Center, Kenosha, WI
• Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington, WY
• Elgin Community College Truck Driving Program, Elgin, IL
• Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, AR
• West Technical Education Center, Belle Glade, FL
• Nelson County UP Center, Bardstown, KY
Associate Member
• National Tank Truck Carrier, Arlington, VA