Laurie Brunk said she is responsible, smart, good with people and puts the needs of others first.

Come to think of it, the qualities she described match what is expected of professional truck drivers.

A placement specialist at Commercial Driver Services (CDS), Brunk is an integral part of the school’s success.

CDS works to provide the highest quality of commercial truck driver training.  Individuals seeking to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) receive the professional instruction necessary to develop the skill and techniques essential to being a safe truck driver.

“Believe me, there is a lot to learn about being a truck driver before one becomes one,” explained Brunk.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Labor report, job opportunities for truck drivers should be favorable through 2014.

“Competing forms of freight transportation — rail, air and ship — still require trucks to move the goods between ports, depots, airports, warehouses, retailers and final consumers,” said the report.

CDS offers a comprehensive and well structured, four-week truck driver training course.  Instructors are industry veterans.

Upon graduation, students receive their Class A CDL and job placement.

One week of training is classroom oriented; the last three weeks are devoted to over-the-road training.

According to Brunk, there are some challenges to be overcome.

She knows what she is talking about; before accepting the placement specialist position, Brunk took the course.

“It was new to me; I was out of my comfort zone,” she said.

“And I wanted the credibility to work here.”

In taking the course, she mentioned three challenges.

“The toughest one is backing up a tractor-trailer,” recalled Brunk. 

“Knowing which way to turn the wheel is vital.”

With 48 feet of trailer to back into a spot (and the fact that the trailer moves in the opposite direction of where the driver turns the steering wheel), Brunk’s point is well taken.

She also said that learning the various parts of a truck and being conscious of where the vehicle is in relation to other vehicles on the road is important.

“Space management, remembering that there is a trailer behind you, is a challenge,” continued Brunk.

But no matter what students face, CDS works to ensure everyone’s success.

“We focus on safety – that is vital,” said Brunk.

“With that, the success of every student is important to us.”
For more information, call (253) 983-0200 or visit www.commercialdriversvsc.com.