Virginia Western Community College announces that through its partnership with CDS Tractor Trailer Training, 251 students graduated and received a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in 2015 with a job placement rate of 86 percent. As the shortage of truck drivers continues to grow nationally, Virginia Western and CDS plan to maintain their partnership and expand opportunities for future students.
According to an analysis by the American Trucking Association released in October 2015, the trucking industry was short about 38,000 drivers in 2014 and was expected to be short nearly 48,000 by the end of 2015. If the current trend holds, the shortage may balloon to almost 175,000 by 2024.
The CDL program at Virginia Western consists of 160 hours of classroom and hands-on training to prepare students to work in the industry. The priority is to help students earn their license and become employed. There are currently 10 to 15 companies that recruit with CDS onsite each month, and there is a network of more than 100 companies to place student in local, regional or over the road opportunities.
“I’m happy I was a part of this program,” said Leonard Casey, a recent graduate. “It helped me line up a great job that wouldn’t have been possible before.”
More than 75 percent of the 281 students who enrolled in in the CDL program in 2015 graduated and received a Class A License. That level of success is a testament to the strong curriculum.
“The students who come through this program are well-prepared to join this high-demand industry,” said Dan Semones, program coordinator in Virginia Western’s Workforce Solutions. “CDS Tractor Trailer Training has the experienced instructors who can help students earn the credentials they need to get ahead and earn a great salary.”
Individuals interested in the CDL program are encouraged to contact Crystal Kennedy at (540) 857-6188 or ckennedy@virginiawestern.edu.
