Central Virginia Community College offers new CDL program

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A brand new program at Central Virginia Neighborhood Faculty is steering college students into the workforce whereas serving to to fill a scarcity impacting individuals nationwide.

With a 12 months left at Liberty College, Nick Buszko is on the job hunt.

By enrolling in CVCC’s CDL course, he went from scholar driver to expert driver in a matter of 4 brief weeks.

“I like having totally different abilities to fall again on,” Buszko stated. “With the present economic system and demand for truck drivers, I believed it was in all probability an excellent factor to get into.”

Buszko is one among 55 college students who’ve enrolled in this system.

The faculty just lately partnered with Ancora, in order that college students can study to drive on campus and on the town.

“We’ve an growing older workforce. One of many belongings you’re seeing throughout the nation is you may have quite a lot of age teams which might be on this demographic, the bulk are in that boomer era,” stated Scott Pleasants, coordinator for Enterprise Partnerships at CVCC. “What we’re trying to do is practice up a seasoned employee that may truly fill these wants in order that as individuals age out of the workforce they’ll truly step up and head into the driving force’s seat.”

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Pleasants added that CVCC is on the lookout for partnerships with Walmart, Foster Fuels, and Watts Petroleum to arrange college students with jobs.

The American Trucking Affiliation stated the nation is brief about 80,000 drivers, an all-time excessive.

“I believe what we’re realizing is a four-year diploma will not be the reply for everybody,” stated Jason Ferguson, affiliate VP of Skilled & Profession Research at CVCC. “Whether or not it’s CDL or another of our profession applications, it’s necessary to get individuals into these positions which might be going to get them jobs, with little to no debt, and get them into the workforce to fill these positions with all the shortages that we’re going through.”

Ferguson stated drivers have to be 18 years or older to take the course. He added that there are two-course choices drivers can enroll in.

The total-time course runs for 4 weeks, Monday by way of Thursday. The part-time course runs for eight weeks on the weekends.

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“I’m excited now to start out occurring longer highway journeys and do some driving,” stated Buszko, who obtained his diploma Monday.

CVCC stated most college students can get their CDL without spending a dime. The Commonwealth covers two-thirds of tuition and different scholarships for individuals who full the course like Buszko.