Section outline

  • Welcome to CDL (Commercial Driver's License) !
     
    Course Introduction:
    This course is designed to help students earn a commercial driver license (CDL). This course introduces students to the trucking industry, both over-the-road trucks and trailers and the operation of trucks used in construction and local commerce. Safe operations will be stressed, along with utilizing an electronic logbook, trip planning, hazards, and roadside inspections.


    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

    CLO1: Identify the classes of vehicles or machines that require a CDL

    CLO2: Explain and apply the CDL rules and regulations

    CLO3: Explain and apply the steps for inspecting various vehicle types and systems 

    CLO4: Use proper techniques for controlling a vehicle

    CLO5: Identify the different types of tractor trailers

    CLO6: Correctly explain the operation and use of key vehicle systems

    CLO7: Discuss the various hazards and/or risks that might arise when operating a vehicle and how to avoid them

    CLO8: Discuss the correct and safe methods of using air brakes for normal braking and emergency braking

    .CLO9: Identify driving emergencies and the safe proper methods of recovery

    CLO10: Identify driver responsibilities for inspecting, loading, securing, and transporting cargo safely

    CLO11: Explain the proper steps necessary to couple and then uncouple a combination vehicle

    CLO12: Utilize a Logbook (electronic or paper) to record trip information (Electronic Logbook-Digital Skill) 

    CLO13: Plan a trip effectively (Mapping Tool -Digital Skill)

    CLO14: Define human trafficking and explain driver responsibilities regarding identifying and reporting human trafficking.

    Navigating the Course

    The course is set up in modules that will correspond to textbook chapters. You should proceed through each module, and complete the assessments (i.e., assignments) listed for each module.  All course material will be accessed via the modules tab. You can find the Modules in the navigation menu on the left or by scrolling down on the course page. To make navigation easier, modules can be collapsed or expanded in both the menu and the main page.

    Each module may contain the following:

    Chapter Outline - You should review the outline for each chapter - it contains a road map of how to proceed through each module.

    Required Readings - Learning materials including but not limited to textbook readings and other relevant sources.

    Discussion- An opportunity to share your understanding of concepts of a chapter and engage with your classmates about their ideas on these same concepts.

    Assignments- An opportunity reflect on and engage with the content in a chapter.

    Quizzes- An opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts in a chapter.

    Course Requirements

     1. Attendance: Information provided should support the mode. (i.e.: Face-to-face, fully online, or hybrid) 

    2. Assigned Readings 

     3. Participation in all Discussions 

    4. Assignments 

    5. Midterm Exam 

    6. Final Exam 

     Attendance: Change as Needed {School name} regulations and policies regarding conduct and attendance will be enforced. As such, you are required to login to the LMS regularly (I suggest 3 times a week at a minimum). Accommodations will be made for excused absences, as defined in this {link. Include any school-specific attendance policy information.} 

    Assigned Readings: You are expected to read the relevant materials according to the Course Schedule. Additional learning materials and information such as reference materials are intended to complement rather than represent the complete body of knowledge that you need for this course. There are no points for completing the readings, but you are highly encouraged to do so because not doing so could adversely affect your performance in this course. 

    Discussions: Please adhere to the following: Discussions are intended to complement the readings and assignments and determine your ability to apply what you have learned. Discussions are to be completed after the Assignments. There will be 17 Discussions. Each discussion will be worth 10 points. The scoring rubric is provided below. I will provide scoring feedback and post solutions for each discussions NLT one week after the discussion session is closed. You are expected to participate in Discussions according to the posted deadlines on LMS. Additional discussion information is provided in the syllabus

    Discussions will be graded as follows: 

    ◻ 10-8 Points: Posting and replies include evidence that the student understands and is able to transfer or relate course concepts to a personal or professional experience. The student addresses the main topic once and responds to a minimum of two other students. 

    ◻ 7-5 Points: Posting and replies indicate an understanding of course concepts. The student addresses the main topic once and responds to a minimum of one other student. 

    ◻ 4-1 Points: Posting and replies are not succinct or do not seem to capture the essence of course concepts. The student does not respond to any other students. 

    ◻ 0 Points: No posting or response to peers 

    All postings including initial postings and replies to your classmates’ postings must be made on LMS on time. No postings or replies that are made after the deadline will be accepted. Late Discussion postings will not be accepted. 

     Assignments: Basics and RequirementsAssignments are practice opportunities. There will be 17 Assignments. Assignments are worth 10 points each. The scoring rubric is provided below. I will score each Assignment NLT one week after the due date. Your Assignments should be neat, clearly labeled with your name on the document. You must show your work to get credit for problems that require it. Credit will not be given for correct or incorrect answers if work is not shown. “Short answer” questions must be fully explained, and all relevant parts must be addressed to receive credit. Directions for submitting your Assignments are provided on LMS. Late Assignments will not be accepted. Assignments cannot be made up; makeup work will not be assigned in lieu of missing Assignments. 

    Assignments will be graded on a scale from 0 to 10 as follows: 

    ◻10 = Complete and excellent work 

    ◻8 = Satisfactory, but with some minor errors 

    ◻6 = Significant errors or omissions 

    ◻4 = Very little correct or useful work 

    ◻2 = Problem Set handed in, but with minimal work 

    ◻0 = Missed Problem Set 

    Quizzes: There will a quiz given for each chapter. All quizzes will be given through the LMS and will be auto-graded. There will be 17 Quizzes. Quizzes are worth 10 points each. 

    Exams: My personal preference would be to avoid formal examinations and use informal and more personal methods of assessing your understanding and comprehension of physics. However, I am required to account to you and to {School Name} regarding your performance. Hence, I will give two formal exams (Midterm and Final). You will be challenged to understand and to apply the concepts. Sure, you will use equations and formulas, but they will serve to illustrate concepts rather than to test your mathematical skills. Midterm Exam is tentatively scheduled for TBA. The Final Exam is tentatively scheduled for TBA The Midterm Exam is worth a maximum of 50 points. The Final Exam is worth a maximum of 50 points. Additional exam information is available on the course’s LMS website. 

    I will provide scoring feedback for your exam(s) NLT one week after the exam due date. It is essential that you submit exams on time. Makeup examinations will NOT be given without legal documentation warranting absence (i.e. doctor’s excuse, obituary, judge’s orders, etc.). 

    Evaluation of Student Performance: In many ways, final grades in a course are a necessary evil. It is certainly one of my most unpleasant tasks each semester. However, it has to be done and I give the process a great deal of thought. The main goal is to use all the available information to summarize my judgment of your understanding of the material in as fair a manner as possible. Also, your performance in this course is important for success in subsequent courses in your major. In addition, realistic feedback on your level of understanding in this course will help you to make well-informed plans for the future. 

     1. In determining the course grade, the above requirements will be calculated as follows: 

    ◻ Assignments: 17 Assignments @ 10 points each = 170 points 

    ◻ Midterm Exam: 1 Midterm Exam @ 50 points = 50 points 

    ◻ Discussions: 17 Discussions @ 10 points each = 170 points 

    ◻ Final Exam: 1 Final Exam @ 50 points = 50 points 

    ◻Quizzes: 17 Quizzes @ 10 points each = 170 points 

    ◻ Total Points Possible = 610 points 

     2. Due dates will be posted on LMS. 

     3. Grades will be assigned as follows: 

    90% (549 points) starts A, 80% (488 points) starts B, 70% (427 points) starts C, 60% (366 points) starts D, below 60% (366 points) is F, no rounding on points or percentages. 

     Incomplete grades will be issued only if you have gone through the proper process and have a reason beyond your control. The need for an incomplete must be made known via phone message or E-mail no later than the last official day of classes. Grades will not be changed to I after grades are sent on to be processed. 

    I will be happy to discuss your status in the course anytime, but I am legally prohibited from sharing your actual grades over the phone. Please visit with me during office hours or contact me by secured email (preferably through LMS using your {SCHOOL NAME} email) if you need to know your actual grade.   

    You will be expected to keep up with assignments. As such, you are required to login to Moodle regularly (I suggest 3 times a week at a minimum). 

    A Course Schedule, which highlights the topics covered each week is found in the Syllabus. 

    You should work to complete assignments in a timely manner. You will typically have until 11:59pm on the due date to turn your work. After a deadline has passed you cannot turn in that particular item. 

    This course and its contents developed by Esperanza Zenon, Connie Milton, Byron Knox, Paul Guillory, Nicholas Bourque, and Charlotte Leleux are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, except where otherwise noted. 
     

    Adopting instructors should edit the instructor-specific information in this Module.

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