(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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §807.322 adopted to be effective August 28, 2006, 31 TexReg 6803; amended to be effective November 28, 2022, 47 TexReg 7941