U.S. Truck Driver Training School, Inc. (USTDTS) announces the promotion of Todd Podwoiski from
Managing Director of Entry Level Driver Training to Vice President of Entry Level Driver Training Theory,
effective May 18, 2026.
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI — U.S. Truck Driver Training School, Inc. (USTDTS), a leading commercial driver’s license (CDL) training institution serving the Metro Detroit area for over 30 years, is proud to announce the promotion of Todd Podwoiski to Vice President of Entry Level Driver Training Theory. The announcement was made by Samka Keranovic, outgoing Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of USTDTS.
In his new role, Podwoiski will carry full oversight of Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Theory across the
institution’s CDL programs, including Class A CDL, Class B CDL, Passenger Endorsement, and Hazardous
Materials. He will be responsible for ensuring that all ELDT Theory instruction is delivered under the 100%
instructor-guided model and remains in strict compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the State of
Michigan and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Todd Podwoiski joined USTDTS on November 11, 2019 — a date that, for those who know him, carries
significance. A proud U.S. Army veteran, Podwoiski brought to civilian life the same discipline, focus, and
commitment to mission that defines military service. That character has been evident in every role he has taken on at USTDTS over the past nearly seven years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Podwoiski took a lead role in one of the most consequential chapters in the
institution’s history. When in-person instruction became impossible and the futures of hundreds of students hung in the balance, he stepped forward to implement social distance education and to build USTDTS’s virtual classroom from the ground up. His efforts kept the institution operational and kept students on track during an unprecedented disruption — a contribution that cannot be overstated.
Beyond the pandemic response, Podwoiski successfully implemented the institution’s Learning Management
System, Moodle, and oversaw its integration with the Student Information System, Apollo. He also played a critical role in developing the institution’s Entry Level Driver Training Theory platform — infrastructure that now serves as the foundation for compliant, high-quality driver education at USTDTS.
In the classroom, his record speaks for itself. Podwoiski has trained thousands of students and holds a 97%
student success rate — a figure that reflects not only his instructional skill but his genuine investment in the
outcomes of every person who sits in his class.
Those who work alongside Todd Podwoiski describe him in consistent terms: personable, outgoing, punctual, and relentlessly dedicated. He does not watch the clock. He will work days, nights, and weekends — whatever the
moment calls for — and he does so without complaint and without being asked. His devotion to USTDTS and to the students it serves is, in the words of those who know him best, second to none. It is a devotion rooted in something deeper than professional obligation. The same sense of duty that led Podwoiski to serve his country is the same force that drives him every day at USTDTS. His military service was not simply a chapter in his past — it is a part of who he is, and it shows in the way he shows up for his team, his students, and his institution.
“There are moments in an institution’s life when the right person rises to exactly the right role, and this is
one of those moments. Todd has given everything to this school — his time, his creativity, his loyalty, and
his heart. He didn’t just help us survive one of the hardest periods any institution has faced; he helped us
emerge from it stronger. He built systems that will serve our students for years to come, and he’s done it
all with the kind of quiet, unwavering dedication that you rarely see. This promotion is not a reward — it is
a recognition of what Todd already is. I could not be more proud to hand this responsibility to him, and I
have complete confidence in everything he will build from here.”
“I am deeply honored to accept this role and deeply grateful to Samka and to the leadership of USTDTS
for the trust they have placed in me. This institution has meant the world to me since the day I walked
through the door. Our students come here because they are ready to change their lives — they are
counting on us to be excellent, to be prepared, and to hold the standard every single day. That is what I
intend to do. The mission of USTDTS is one I believe in completely, and I will work as hard as I have to in
order to make sure every student who comes through our doors gets the education they deserve.”
Podwoiski’s elevation to Vice President of Entry Level Driver Training Theory will not impact his current
instructional responsibilities. He will continue in his existing capacity as an instructor, maintaining the same hands-on presence in the classroom that has defined his tenure at USTDTS. The 100% instructor-guided delivery of ELDT Theory — across Class A CDL, Class B CDL, Passenger Endorsement, and Hazardous Materials — will
remain fully intact, as will his Commercial Learners Permit courses. Students and staff can expect the same
standard of instruction, the same level of personal investment, and the same unwavering commitment to
excellence that Podwoiski has always brought to the classroom. His new title reflects an expansion of
responsibility, not a departure from the work he loves.
Contact: Samka Keranovic Co-Founder, Desert Roots Wellness
[email protected]
www.drwmbs.com