Trucker Path is joining forces with the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, better known as NAPFTDS, in a move aimed at strengthening the CDL training pipeline and giving new drivers a clearer picture of what real trucking looks like before they ever climb into a cab on their own.
For experienced drivers, it is no secret that today’s industry runs on more than horsepower. Route planning, parking availability, safe truck stops, shifting regulations, and constant time pressure shape every trip. Now, this partnership aims to make sure students learn those realities early.
Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path, explained the goal clearly. “Every driver entering the industry should understand the tools and technology shaping modern trucking. By partnering with NAPFTDS, we’re helping CDL schools prepare students for real-world conditions. Everything from trip planning to truck stop selection to compliance with changing safety standards. It’s about giving new drivers a head start in operating efficiently and safely.”
Through this collaboration, publicly funded CDL programs across the country will be able to bring Trucker Path’s well-known tools directly into their training. Instructors can show students how to map out routes, check parking availability, study safe rest locations, and get familiar with the same information that more than a million working drivers use every day.
Many schools have already rolled out the platform. At Milwaukee Area Technical College, the response has been strong. “At MATC, we’ve integrated Trucker Path into our curriculum as a trip planning tool, and the response from students has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Dan Zdrojewski, lead faculty, truck driving. “It’s intuitive, industry-relevant, and gives our future drivers real-world resources they’ll rely on from day one. This kind of collaboration strengthens training programs nationwide.”
The partnership also includes joint educational sessions, instructor and student access to the app, and regular webinars to help schools adopt more driver-focused technology in their classrooms and on their training routes.
According to Martin Garsee, executive director of NAPFTDS, the value is clear. “Trucker Path brings invaluable expertise and technology that perfectly aligns with NAPFTDS’s mission to advance public truck driver training, resulting in enhanced curriculum effectiveness and better-prepared graduates,” he said. “Their cutting-edge digital tools bring real-world relevance to the classroom, helping our students graduate with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in today’s transportation industry.”
For veteran drivers on the road now, efforts like this mean the next generation will enter trucking with better tools, stronger preparation, and a more realistic view of the job. And for students just starting, it is a chance to learn the ropes from day one using systems they will rely on throughout their careers.
Source: The Trucker
