Wayne Community College is adding truck driving to its offerings.
The inaugural commercial truck driver training course will begin in September and run through December. The WCC Workforce Continuing Education Division added the program in response to requests from the community.
“We are serious about responding to the needs of the employers in our community and meetings with business leaders along with local data has been pointing us to the need for additional training in the transportation industry,” said Renita Allen Dawson, associate vice president of Workforce Continuing Education.
The college began offering Commercial Driver’s License Permit Preparation classes this summer and is now ready to add the hands-on training program.
“We have hired an extremely qualified instructor who will be able to ensure students who complete this program have the knowledge and experience to compete in the trucking industry,” Dawson said of Tony Hardy.
According to Dawson, students who complete the program will be well-equipped to obtain entry-level positions in the transportation industry. They will be tested through written and behind-the-wheel exams to ensure they have the skills and knowledge required to safely and successfully operate commercial vehicles.
Those who successfully complete the course will earn a Class A Commercial Driver’s License, DOT 380 certificate, and a WCC Workforce Continuing Education certificate.
Graduates of the program can expect to earn from $40,000 to $60,000 annually in their first year with an established company. Employment is available locally, regionally, and nationally in various industries, governmental agencies, and by self-employment.
Students will be able to meet potential employers who will be invited to the classes.
Classes will be held at the college 6-10 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sept. 10-Dec. 19.
Students must meet all enrollment requirements. A list of those requirements, as well as details about the course, can be found at www.waynecc.edu/continuing-ed/
Cost for the course is $180 for registration and $1,000 for supplies, plus fees for student identification card, parking sticker, and insurance. Students will also have to purchase a textbook.
For more information about the WCC Truck Driving Program, contact Hardy, the course instructor, at 919-739-6939 or tshardy@waynecc.edu or Lisa Newkirk, program coordinator, at 919-739-6931 or ldnewkirk@waynecc.edu.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 11,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 140 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
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