Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class B

Put Your Driving Skills to Work

Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES CWD is excited to offer training courses to help you achieve your goal of earning your Class B, which includes School Bus Driver certification. Beginning February 7, 2022, in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rule, any individual trying to obtain their Commercial Drivers License (CDL) for the first time, must successfully complete an approved program before they can take their CDL skills test. The continued demand for certified drivers means you will be more employable than ever and have the possibility of working for an industry that provides full-time, benefited employment and/or part-time and flexible employment. For more information on the new regulations, click here. 
Due to Department of Transportation regulations and because our program trains students on a school bus, students must be 21 or older to take our CDL-B class.

Course Information

  • Prerequisites: 
    • 21 years of age or older 
    • successful completion of TABE entrance assessment
    • a clean and valid NYS Driver's License, as per the CDL Self Certify.pdf
    • a passing of DOT physical (more information available here)
    • proof of a valid CDL Class B permit. Students are required to take and pass a their CDL permit test with air brakes, passenger and school bus endorsements prior to enrollment. Information on securing a permit is available at https://dmv.ny.gov/get-cdl..

  • Tuition: $2,495, includes one (1) NYS motor vehicle driver test fee and use of a vehicle for test
    • $250 non-refundable deposit required to secure seat
    • $2,245 scholarship available to eligible Monroe County residents. 

  • Class Dates (subject to change)
    • Summer: July 11 - August 17
    • Fall: August 29 - October 5
    • Winter: March 19 - May 2
    • Spring: May 14 - June 20

  • Class Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
  • Program length: 36 hours 
  • Location: Spencerport School District Transportation, 2678 Nichols Street, Spencerport, NY 14559
  • Dress code: casual, industry professional (jeans okay)
  • Student provided supplies: single subject notebook, pens/pencils
Complete a contact card to connect with an advisor, learn more about the program, and get a link to register for an entrance assessment



Optional add-ons:
  • Permit prep class: $25 Click here for more details. 
  • Individual drive time outside of class (optional, 1 hour block, based on student, instructor, and equipment availability): $229
  • Additional Road Tests: $299 (includes instructor/equipment fees; does not include $40 road test fee, which must be paid by student)
Student Responsibilities
  • Attend all classes as scheduled, participating in class and behind the wheel activities. Students are permitted to miss one class. 
  • Complete all required coursework and achieve at least an 80% on all assessments.
  • Demonstrate proficiency on skills outlined on the Behind the Wheel checklist by the end of the course. No student will be referred to the road test without first demonstrating proficiency in the required skills. 
  • Make and keep all DMV appointments, providing at least 72-hour advance warning before rescheduling.  

What Will I Learn?

What you learn with us:
  • Reinforcement of general CDL knowledge content
  • Vehicle Inspection pre-trip/en-route/post-trip
  • “Get Out and Look” (GOAL)
  • Straight-line backing
  • Alley dock backing
  • Off-set backing
  • Parallel parking blind side
  • Parallel parking sight side
  • Vehicle controls
  • Shifting/transmission
  • Communications/signaling
  • Visual search
  • Speed and space management
  • Safe driver behavior
  • Hours of service (HOS) requirements
  • Hazard perception
  • Railroad (RR) Highway grade crossing
  • Night operation
  • Extreme driving conditions
  • Skid control/recovery, jackknifing, other emergencies
  • Additional requirements for bus and passenger endorsements
  • Employment skills and resources

How Do I Enroll?

Admission Procedures
When you are ready to apply, registration for career and technical programs requires successful completion of the entrance assessment, and satisfactory arrangement of payment of tuition. An automated email confirming registration will be sent to your email. The entire admission process must be completed before enrollment is confirmed.

  1. Complete a contact card and register for an Entrance Assessment: Once you submit the contact card, you'll receive an email (check your spam!). Use the link in the email to complete your application and register for an Entrance Assessment.
  2. Complete an entrance assessment to determine your program eligibility. Your score on the assessment helps determine the level of support you may need to be successful in the program.
  3. Submit program-specific requirements via portal upload, email, fax, or hand delivery:
  4. Secure funding. Complete the scholarship application, available at your entrance assessment or self-pay

Get Started Today!

Complete a contact card to connect with an advisor, learn more about the program, and complete an application

Permit Test Prep

PREPARE FOR THE PERMIT TEST
ONLINE: CWD can provide access to an online class once a student has registered. Student must pay course deposit of $250 and then request access to the course. Student retains access to course materials for up to 1 year. 

All CDL-B students must compete the CDL-B General Knowledge w/ Air Brakes test AND successfully pass two endorsement tests:
•    Passenger Transport
•    School Bus


STUDY GUIDE:
Applicants may pick up a free manual at our admissions office. A digital version can be found here (https://dmv.ny.gov/commercial-drivers/new-york-state-commercial-drivers-manual). There are also several free apps that may help you study and practice. Search for DMV and CDL on your app store.

The sections to study in the Commercial Driver Manual are as follows:
•    General Knowledge: Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 & 13
•    Antilock Brake Systems: Section 6.3
•    Hazardous Materials: Section 9 (especially 9.4 and 9.5)
•    Air Brake: Section 5
•    School Bus: Section 10
•    Passenger Transport: Section 4