Lead CDL Trainer

New York City School Bus Umbrella Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

New York City School Bus Umbrella Services is seeking a Lead CDL Trainer to oversee the CDL Training Track, ensuring high-quality instruction and readiness for NY state road tests. You will lead CDL Trainers, coordinate schedules, and manage trainee progression across classroom and field settings.

The role requires an experienced commercial driver with leadership, coaching, and strong organizational skills to promote a safety-first culture and ensure regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading CDL training programs and teams.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills for adult learners.
• Ability to coordinate trainee pipelines, schedules, and evaluations.
• Knowledge of NY CDL requirements and ELDT framework.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of the CDL Training Track.
• Coordinate trainee assignments and instructional priorities among Trainers.
• Monitor trainee progression and readiness for state road tests.
• Ensure consistency of curriculum, safety, and documentation across trainers.
• Deliver hands-on yard and behind-the-wheel instruction.
• Teach CDL preparation and safety concepts in classrooms and on roads.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Program Coordination

CDL Training

Job description

The Lead CDL Trainer provides day-to-day leadership, coordination, and oversight of NYCSBUS’s CDL Training Track, ensuring that prospective School Bus Drivers receive consistent, high-quality instruction and are appropriately prepared to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and progress through the School Bus Driver training process. This is a working lead position. In addition to personally delivering classroom, yard, and behind-the-wheel instruction, the Lead CDL Trainer serves as the primary operational resource for the CDL Trainer team and helps coordinate trainee assignments, training schedules, instructional priorities, evaluations, documentation, and trainee progression.

The Lead CDL Trainer is responsible for promoting consistency across the training program and ensuring that CDL Trainers follow established curriculum, safety protocols, company expectations, and applicable federal and New York State requirements.

Working collaboratively with Safety, Training, Compliance, Human Resources, and Operations, the Lead CDL Trainer helps identify barriers affecting trainee progression and ensures that concerns related to safety, attendance, performance, readiness, or training capacity are identified and escalated promptly.

The ideal candidate is an experienced commercial driver and trainer who combines strong technical knowledge with leadership, coaching, organization, accountability, and a genuine commitment to developing safe and successful School Bus Drivers.

KEY WORK RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of the NYCSBUS CDL Training Track.
• Serve as the primary point of coordination for CDL Trainers regarding daily training activities, trainee assignments, instructional priorities, and operational needs.
• Coordinate the distribution of trainees among CDL Trainers based on training stage, skill level, instructor availability, and operational priorities.
• Help establish and maintain a structured training progression from entry into the CDL Training Track through readiness for the New York State CDL road test.
• Monitor the overall CDL trainee pipeline and identify trainees who are progressing appropriately, require additional support, or are not meeting program expectations.
• Conduct regular check-ins with CDL Trainers regarding trainee progress, challenges, safety concerns, and readiness.
• Promote consistency in instructional practices, evaluation standards, and documentation across the CDL Trainer team.
• Communicate training capacity, trainee status, anticipated road-test readiness, and program challenges to department leadership.
• Identify operational or instructional barriers that may delay trainees and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Support the onboarding and development of newly hired CDL Trainers.

Behind-the-Wheel & Yard Instruction

• Personally deliver hands-on CDL instruction as part of the regular responsibilities of the position.
• Teach trainees the safe operation of commercial and school bus vehicles in controlled yard environments and on public roads.
• Provide instruction in backing maneuvers, turning, parking, vehicle positioning, defensive driving, and other skills necessary for successful commercial vehicle operation.
• Prepare trainees to demonstrate the competencies necessary to successfully complete the New York State CDL examination.
• Reinforce safe driving habits, professional conduct, situational awareness, and proper decision-making throughout the training process.
• Provide additional coaching and remedial instruction when trainees require additional development.

Classroom & Regulatory Instruction

• Deliver classroom instruction related to CDL preparation and commercial vehicle safety.
• Provide instruction consistent with applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements and the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) framework.
• Reinforce applicable DOT, DMV, DOE, company, and regulatory expectations associated with School Bus Driver qualification and safe vehicle operation.
• Ensure classroom instruction is consistent, structured, engaging, and aligned with approved training materials.
• Assist leadership with reviewing and improving CDL training curriculum, instructional materials, exercises, and evaluation tools.

Trainee Evaluation & Progression

• Establish and reinforce consistent standards for evaluating trainee performance.
• Review trainee evaluations completed by CDL Trainers and provide guidance when additional assessment is necessary.
• Evaluate trainees directly when necessary to determine readiness for advancement within the training track.
• Identify trainees requiring additional instruction, remediation, or individualized coaching.
• Ensure that trainees are not advanced to the next stage of training solely because of time spent in the program; progression must be based on demonstrated competency and readiness.
• Provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback to trainees regarding performance and areas requiring improvement.
• Escalate significant performance, behavioral, attendance, or safety concerns through the appropriate management channels.
• Provide recommendations regarding whether trainees should continue, receive additional training, be temporarily held from advancement, or be referred for further review.

Safety & Compliance Leadership

• Promote a strong safety-first culture throughout the CDL Training Track.
• Ensure all training activities comply with NYCSBUS safety standards and applicable federal, state, DOE, DMV, and DOT requirements.
• Reinforce that no trainee should advance to road testing or independent vehicle operation unless appropriate safety and competency standards have been demonstrated.
• Monitor CDL Trainers' adherence to established training and safety protocols.
• Immediately address or escalate unsafe practices, regulatory concerns, vehicle issues, or other conditions that may create unnecessary risk.
• Participate in internal reviews, audits, investigations, or corrective actions involving CDL training when requested.

Documentation, Reporting & Program Tracking

• Ensure CDL Trainers maintain complete, accurate, and timely trainee records.
• Monitor attendance, evaluations, training hours, skill progression, road-test readiness, road-test outcomes, and other required program documentation.
• Maintain visibility into the status of each trainee within the CDL Training Track.
• Provide periodic reports and updates to management regarding:
  • Number of active CDL trainees
  • Training progression
  • Road-test readiness
  • Pass/fail results
  • Attendance concerns
  • Trainees requiring remediation
  • Training capacity and instructor availability
  • Emerging trends or program challenges
• Partner with HR and other departments to ensure trainee status information is communicated accurately and timely.
• Maintain training records in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.

Vehicle Inspection & Equipment Oversight

• Perform and teach required pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections.
• Ensure trainees understand how to identify and appropriately report mechanical and safety concerns.
• Confirm that training vehicles are appropriate and safe for instructional use.
• Immediately report vehicle defects or safety concerns through established channels.
• Coordinate with Fleet/Operations when training vehicle availability or mechanical conditions affect the training schedule.
• Work closely with Safety, Training, Compliance, Human Resources, Fleet, and Operations to support the successful progression of CDL trainees into qualified School Bus Drivers.
• Communicate trainee status and anticipated training completion timelines to appropriate stakeholders.
• Participate in meetings related to driver staffing, training capacity, recruitment pipelines, safety, and operational readiness when requested.
• Support organizational initiatives related to driver recruitment, retention, safety, and professional development.
• Assist in identifying opportunities to strengthen the transition between recruitment, CDL training, Driver Training, qualification, and active School Bus Driver status.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The Lead CDL Trainer is expected to:

• Lead by example in safety, professionalism, attendance, communication, and accountability.
• Establish clear expectations while maintaining a respectful and supportive learning environment.
• Coach CDL Trainers and trainees rather than simply identifying deficiencies.
• Address concerns promptly rather than allowing performance or safety issues to escalated.
• Maintain consistency and fairness when evaluating trainee performance.
• Communicate proactively with management regarding risks, delays, staffing needs, and training capacity.
• Encourage teamwork and collaboration among CDL Trainers.
• Support continuous improvement of the CDL Training Track.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment when handling trainee or employee matters.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS | JOB COMPETENCIES

• Eligible to work in the US
• Valid New York State CDL Class A or B.
• Current Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements.
• Driving record that meets NYCSBUS and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Minimum 3–5 years of verifiable commercial driving experience, preferably involving school buses or passenger transportation.
• Demonstrated experience training, coaching, mentoring, or developing CDL drivers.
• Strong knowledge of commercial vehicle operation and safety practices.
• Working knowledge of FMCSA regulations and Entry-Level Driver Training requirements.
• Knowledge of applicable New York State CDL testing requirements.
• Strong understanding of pre-trip inspections and basic commercial vehicle mechanics.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to provide direction to trainers and trainees.
• Strong verbal communication, presentation, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and manage difficult performance conversations professionally.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple trainees at different stages of the training process.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Strong commitment to safety, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working in classroom, yard, and public-road environments.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday beginning at approximately 6:30 AM, with flexibility for occasional weekends and operational needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as a Lead Trainer, Senior CDL Trainer, Driver Trainer, Training Supervisor, or similar leadership role.
• Previous School Bus Driver training experience.
• Experience managing or coordinating a CDL trainee pipeline.
• Familiarity with NYC school bus transportation requirements and operating environments.
• Experience tracking training metrics, road-test outcomes, and trainee performance.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are a plus.

NYCSBUS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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