'From the first to the last lesson, I was treated with respect and encouraged to learn in an open and friendly manner. I cannot stress enough the great expertise and experience your instructors displayed, not only to myself, but to all the students. If not for the sincere caring family atmosphere encouraged within your school, my obtaining an ACZ license may not have occurred as rapidly as it did.'

For more testimonials regarding our instructions, please visit our Testimonials page.

Dennis, Founder

Over 30 Years Experience

Dennis began his trucking career in 1975 and has driven throughout North America for various trucking companies. At one point during Dennis's career he was also an Owner Operator. After becoming a driver trainer for a large tanker company Dennis found his calling as an instructor. Dennis has various instructor certificates from the Ontario Safety League such as, Load Securement. Air Brake Endorsement Instructor with Signing Authority, Motor Vehicle Fleet Trainer, and Air Brake Adjustment Instructor. Dennis is also recognized through the Canada Safety Council as an Instructor. The Canadian Trucking Human Resource Council held a course for Earning Your Wheels Instructor Trainer Workshop that Dennis also successfully completed.

Dennis first introduced the Academy in 1998 with only one truck and two instructors. After years of success OTTA has become Durham Region, Northumberland, and the Kawartha's largest truck training facility.

Oshawa Campus

David, Instructor

Over 30 Years Experience

David began his career as a Professional driver in 1982. He developed a wealth of knowledge through his experiences in a variety of countries including England, Greece, Russia and now Canada. David has adapted to and gained experience in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Ontario.

David has been devoted to training others as Professional Drivers since arriving in Canada in 2006 training many students in both Coach and Truck. David loves nurturing the potential in his students and assisting them to become safe, competent professional drivers.

David has various instructor certificates from TTSAO such as In-Cab Instructor and Air Brake Endorsement Instructor and is a member of The Fleet Safety Council.

Loving Memory of James Laporte, Instructor

40 Years Experience

James comes to OTTA as an experienced commercial transport driver, with experience on freight, flat deck, special commodities, oversized loads, tankers, dump, and pony.

During James career he has also owned his own transportation company hauling loads all over Northern Ontario, Western and Eastern Canada, and throughout the United States. James teaches in-class courses as well as in-cab.

James’s expertise is a valuable asset to both OTTA and its students.

Loving Memory of Jim Bargent (1953-2010), Former Instructor

Over 30 Years Experience

Jim began driving trucks professionally in 1976. Over his career he has worked with various commodities in van lines, flat decks, and tanker trucks. Throughout the majority of his career he carried chemical tankers across North America.

Jim was one of the original OTTA trainers; he was with OTTA since the doors opened in 1998. Jim took great pride in his expertise of teaching students the fundamentals of double clutching and progressive shifting on our two state-of-the-art simulators. We often had students that have graduated from OTTA return for visits and told Jim what a great job he did teaching the mechanisms of an unsynchronized transmission, and how helpful it's been in their new job.

'In our Trucks Forever'