The path to a steady, lucrative career has been made easier with the return of the truck driving program at East Mississippi Community College.
The program has gone from under the heading of the college’s career/technical programs to workforce services as a noncredit course. The timeframe of the course has been cut in half from eight to four weeks.
“We’re going to cover pre-trip inspections, all the different parking maneuvers and obviously do some road driving,” said instructor Mark Dodson. “We’ve basically shortened the program to get people employed quicker. They can get in, get their license and go to work after.”
Students in the program will also learn safety rules and regulations, air brakes and hazardous materials safety rules.
“We can hit the ground running and be able to jump right in the truck,” Dodson said.
Students will no longer be required to take the ACT or ACCUPLACER exams to enter the program, but will be required to take the WorkKeys exam. Incoming students will also be required to have a regular driver’s license and a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
Prior to the start of the course, students must file an application for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and obtain a CDL learner’s permit, both of which can be done at any driver’s license facility.
The minimum age for the program has also been reduced to 18 from 21. However, CDL drivers are not legally allowed to cross state lines until they are at least 21.
The cost of the course is $1,800, with tuition assistance available for qualified students.
Classes will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and students should register as soon as possible even if they don’t plan to take the course right away.
A truck driver for 22 years and EMCC instructor since February, Dodson said now is a good time to enter the trucking industry.
“The job opportunities are endless,” Dodson said. “Every company you call is in desperate need of new drivers. There’s not a lot of young people coming in for whatever reason.”
Dodson also said employing drivers with clean safety records was becoming more important in the industry.
According to U.S Bureau of Labor of Statistics, the 2016 median annual pay for truck drivers is $41,130.
Dodson can be contacted at jdodson@eastms.edu or at 662-599-3092, and EMCC Workforce Services can be reached at 662-243-2686