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Truck Driving Admission ImageAdmission

To qualify for admission into Northampton Community College’s truck driving program, a student must meet the following requirements:


  1. Have a valid PA or NJ driver’s license.
  2. Be 18 years of age (Cannot carry hazardous materials or cross state lines of the State issuing the CDL license until age 21).
  3. Be able to obtain a PA or NJ CDL written knowledge permit.  (No outstanding traffic violations or suspensions or be in arrears on court ordered payments.)
  4. Be able to pass a Department of Transportation Physical and a Federal Chain of Custody Drug Screen.
  5. Have dependable transportation to and from class.
  6. Have a positive attitude and a commitment to safe driving.
  7. Students must be able to pass an entrance exam to insure that they meet Federal Motor Carriers Fleet Safety Compliance Manual Part 391.11 Section (a) (2) which states that the driver shall be able to read and speak the ENGLISH language sufficiently to understand highway traffic signs and signals and directions given in ENGLISH and respond to official inquiries. Please click here to view Federal Driver Qualifications. 

Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operators are required to take a U.S. Department of Transportation physical every two years.  There are certain portions of the physical that may disqualify a person from driving a CMV.  They include but are not limited to:

  1. Loss of a hand, arm, foot, or leg
  2. Established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes requiring insulin for control
  3. Physical defect or disease likely to interfere with safe driving
  4. Hearing loss greater than 40 decibels with or without a hearing aid
  5. Must have 20/40 vision or better with or without corrective lenses and field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye and must be able to distinguish the colors of traffic signals and devices
  6. Use of any prescription contained on the Schedule of Controlled substances as published by the US Department of Justice, 21 CRF part 1308             
  7. Use of illegal controlled substances
  8. Current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism

Please click here for a comprehensive list of the physical qualifications.

All students seeking admission to the program must register in person.  No appointment is necessary, but please arrive at least one hour before the end of the business day.

 


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