| (a) A school shall apply to the Agency for approval
to provide a truck driver instructor development course.
(b) The instructor development course shall consist
of 40 hours of course time, which includes at least the following
topics.
(1) Five hours shall cover techniques of instruction
including: qualities of a competent instructor, the learning process,
methods of teaching, development of efficient teaching habits, demonstration
teaching, the use of instruction material and training aids, course
preparation, lesson plans, testing and evaluation, and the duration
and frequency of lessons.
(2) Two hours shall cover personality factors affecting
the driver and pedestrian including: natural abilities; senses; mind
and nerves; bones and muscles; knowledge of vehicle, road, traffic,
and self; attitudes and emotions; reaction time; and reactions to
alcohol, carbon monoxide, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs,
illegal drugs, heart ailments, epilepsy, diabetes, insanity, exhaustion,
tension, and monotony.
(3) Six hours shall cover state laws as located in
the Texas Motor Vehicle Law book relating to the operation of motor
vehicles including: driver's license, vehicle registration, certificate
of title, operation of vehicles, uniform act, miscellaneous offenses,
and safety responsibility.
(4) Eight hours shall cover driving procedures including:
handling--city, rural, night, mountain, and freeway driving; fog,
rain, sandstorms, and other hazardous weather conditions; road hazards
and recovery procedures for slick roads; blowout hazards and running
off the road; traffic signs, markings, and signals; use of rearview
mirrors; vehicle braking and stopping distances; following distances;
right-of-way, when and how to yield it; vehicle acceleration and deceleration;
yielding right-of-way to emergency vehicles; driver signals; proper
passing procedures; procedures and problems for passing on two and
three-lane roadways; and super-size motorized equipment.
(5) Three hours shall cover physical forces affecting
the motor vehicle in motion including: forces of gravity; friction;
acceleration, mass, and force; inertia and centrifugal force; kinetic
energy and momentum; kinetic energy and braking; and horsepower and
acceleration.
(6) Two hours shall cover highway characteristics including:
primary, secondary, expressway, freeway, farm or ranch road, two-way
two-lane, two-way three-lane, two-way multilane, two-way multilane
divided, one-way multilane, parking, and traffic controls. Traffic
control topics consist of the following:
(A) sign topics including shape, color, location and
importance;
(B) traffic marking topics including center and lane
lines, no passing zone, transition markings, turn lane marking, stop
lines, crosswalk lines, and so forth; and
(C) signal topics including classification, location,
type, timing.
(7) Two hours shall cover automobile systems and maintenance
including: electrical system--generator, alternator, battery, lighting,
and electric-powered equipment; cooling system--lubrication and fuel
systems; power train--engine, transmission, and differential; brake
system--wheels and tires, caster, camber, toe-in, balance, inflation,
tire condition, and care; exhaust system; instruments and gauges;
compartment adjustments--seat, ventilation, mirrors, headrests, seat
belts, and shoulder harness; starting the engine and warm-up procedures;
safety devices--door locks, headrests; and miscellaneous features--windshield
wipers, heater, and defroster.
(8) Two hours shall cover behind-the-wheel elementary
lessons with demonstration in an appropriate vehicle and practice
to be performed in the presence of the instructor including: starting;
steering; stopping; shifting gears; backing; turning--right and left;
and parking and starting on grade.
(9) Six hours shall cover behind-the-wheel driving
safety lessons with demonstration in an appropriate vehicle and practice
to be performed in the presence of the instructor including: developing
good seeing habits; speed control; safe following; lane driving and
lane changing; intersections and right-of-way; proper signaling; correct
turn procedures; detecting of and handling problems--vehicle, cycle,
pedestrian; freeway driving--ramp use, entering, exiting, lane use,
emergency stopping; parking procedures; entering traffic from parked
position; and night driving.
(10) Two hours shall cover school and instructor approval
requirements including the following: school approval requirements,
instructor approval requirements, classroom and automotive equipment
requirements, required student records, contract requirements, and
deportment of instructors.
(11) Two hours shall cover specialized training regarding
the following: students with physical, mental, or emotional handicaps;
illiterate students; non-English-speaking students; and habitual violators
and problem drivers.
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