Richmond Community College (RCC) has entered a partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCTI) to offer truck driver training this fall.
An orientation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, on RCC’s main campus in Hamlet. Registration for the class will be by appointment on Monday, Oct. 6, followed by classes beginning Oct. 8.
“Caldwell (Community College and Technical Institute) is known statewide for its truck driver training, and we are fortunate to be able to partner with them to offer this certificate to our students,” said Robbie Taylor, vice president of RCC’s Workforce and Economic Development division.
The truck driving industry employs nearly 9 million people in trucking-related jobs. However, there is a growing shortage of drivers, and entry-level drivers are entering a demanding field where there is a premium placed on quality student drivers fresh out of training.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted an 11 percent employment growth for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers from 2012-2022. As the economy grows, the demand for goods will increase, and more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.
CCCTI has been offering truck driver training since 1990 and has graduated more than 2,000 CDL drivers in the last 10 years. The program is certified by the Professional Truck Driving Institute (PTDI) located in Alexandria, Va. PTDI is the first non-profit organization to develop uniform skills performance, curriculum and certification standards for the trucking industry and to award course certification to entry-level truck driver finishing programs.
The first two weeks of the class will be spent in the classroom, followed by six weeks behind the wheel. The eight-and-a-half-week program has been approved for veterans’ benefits. Cost of the course is $2,500.
“The cost is very competitive compared to some of the other truck driving classes offered in the state,” said Taylor, who pointed out the cost of other programs has exceeded $3,000 for training.
In order to qualify for the class, students must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license with no limiting restrictions. Students must also be able to read and speak English well enough to take instructions from highway signs, converse with officials and complete the required reports. Completion of a physical and drug screening are also required prior to the first day of class, and students must attend the Sept. 24 orientation.
Upon completion of the course, students will take the final road test for their commercial driver’s license at RCC’s training facility. Students will not have to go to the DMV.
For more information about the course or to schedule an appointment for registration, contact Holly Russell at 910-410-1705.