Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in a field of study after graduation. For students to be successful in the Commercial Truck Driving program, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:

Ability to Use Senses.

• Visual: Acuity to identify, read, and understand directions and gauges on equipment and other documents required in the operation of a commercial vehicle.
• Hearing: Ability to hear sounds and warning signals which could lead to an emergency situation requiring some type of proactive or reactive response.
• Smell: Ability to detect possible dangers involved in driving a commercial vehicle.
• Tactile: Feel vibrations or some unusual shaking indicating that a possible danger exists in the operation of a commercial vehicle.

Motor Ability.

• Physical ability to drive for long distances and periods of time; lift, move, and transfer cargo of at least 50 pounds; and maneuver in limited spaces.
• Ability to perform physical activities that require considerable use of arms and legs and moving your whole body, including climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of goods and materials.
• Ability to manually load and unload cargo efficiently and safely while wearing essential safety equipment.

Ability to Understand Need for a Safe Work Environment.

• Practical awareness of potential dangers in the driving of commercial vehicles and highway safety.
• Ability to wear necessary safety gear.
• Ability to maintain safe environment at all times, on and off the road.
• Ability to drive defensively at all times.

Ability to Communicate.

• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to class partners and/or team and to instructors.
• Ability to write and perform routine mathematical calculations clearly and correctly.
• Basic proficiency in technology (computers and peripheral components) as the industry requires.

Ability to Problem Solve.

• Intellectual and conceptual ability for measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, and prioritizing daily functions in today's driving, shipping, and cargo handling environments.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment without jeopardizing safety.
• Ability to react and adjust as instructed by instructors during lab or shop instruction or in response to customer's needs.

Ability to Maintain Emotional Stability.

• Ability to function safely under stress in today's workplace and adapt to changing laws, rules, and regulations governing highway and road safety and in consideration of interactions with people and situations.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism at all times, including in the classroom, on the range, and in the commercial vehicle work environment.

Ability to Perform Practical Outcomes.

• Ability to function under the practical guidelines of federal and state regulations regarding the use of a commercial vehicle and federal and state laws governing road and highway safety.