Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class B

Put Your Driving Skills to Work for You

Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES CWD is excited to offer new 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.

Course Information

  • Prerequisites: 
    • --18 years of age or older (must be 21 years old to drive a school bus)
    • --successful completion of TABE entrance assessment
    • --a clean and valid NYS Driver's License, as per the CDL License Verification Release Form.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 Orientation. Information on securing a permit is available at https://dmv.ny.gov/get-cdl.
  • Tuition: $2,250, includes one (1) NYS motor vehicle driver test fee and use of a vehicle for test
    • $250 non-refundable deposit required to secure seat
    • $2,000 scholarship available to eligible Monroe County residents. 
  • Next Class: July 12 - August 18
    • Orientation: July 7 5:30 @ 3555 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
  • Class Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
  • Program length: 36 hours 
  • Location: TBD
    • Brockport High School 40 Allen Street, Brockport NY 14420
      • OR
    • Rochester Tech Park, 160 Wallace Way Building 9, Rochester NY 14624
      • OR
    • Spencerport High School, 2707 Spencerport Rd, Spencerport, NY 14559
Optional add-ons:
  • Access to online course for permit prep: by request only; student must pay course deposit of $250 first. Student retains access to course materials for up to 1 year. 
  • Individual drive time outside of class (optional, 1 hour block, based on student, instructor, and equipment availability): $125
  • Additional Road Tests: $150 (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 you learn with us:

  • Reinforcement of general CDL knowledge content
  • Vehicle Inspection pre-trip/enroute/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


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. Attend an entrance assessment session. Click here to schedule your CWD Entrance Assessment Registration
  2. Submit program-specific requirements via email, fax, or hand delivery: 
    1. CDL License Verification Release Form.pdf
    2. CDL_ScholarshipApplication.pdf
    3. copy of Medical Examiner's Certificate
    4. non-refundable deposit of $250, and 
    5. proof of Class B permit.
  3. Secure funding. Complete the scholarship application, available at your entrance assessment or self-pay

Get Started Today!

Our career training programs require students to attend an entrance assessment session as the first step in the admissions process.

If you wish to speak with an advisor or have questions about the process, please call us at 585.349.9100.

Permit Test Prep

PREPARE FOR THE PERMIT TEST
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 test AND successfully pass three endorsement tests:
•    Air Brakes
•    Passenger Transport
•    School Bus

STUDY GUIDE:
Applicants may pick up a free manual at the DMV or at our office, 3555 Buffalo Road. 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