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Get on the road to a rewarding career with the Gaston College Truck Driver Training Program

Gaston College, in collaboration with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI), offers a Truck Driver Training Program that gives students the training required to operate tractor-trailer rigs, get their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become professional truck drivers. two men standing by truckAccording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for qualified commercial truck drivers is expected to grow by 21 percent through 2020, and trucking companies actively seek quality student drivers right out of school.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the opportunity to be employed by commercial trucking companies, become an owner-operator, or take advantage of local jobs. The Truck Driver Training program is certified by the Professional Truck Driving Institute (PTDI).

Admission requirements for the class include having a minimum age of 18, having a valid North Carolina driver’s license, and being able to read and speak English well enough to take instructions from highway signs, to converse with officials, and to complete the required reports. The complete list of requirements is available at https://www.gaston.edu/economic-workforce-development/truck-driver-training/admission-requirements.

The cost for tuition and fees for the class is $1,881, well below the average cost for commercial truck driving schools. This amount is payable at registration. A payment plan is available, and there are opportunities for scholarships to partially defray the cost of tuition and fees. Costs for the required DOT physical and drug screen, and N.C. Motor Vehicle Record, permit and license are additional.

The Truck Driver Training program is approved by the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Unemployed and underemployed individuals may qualify for tuition vouchers to participate in the course.

For more information about the Truck Driver Training Program, contact Donna Blake at [email protected] or 704-922-2267, or Chris Thompson at [email protected] or 828-726-2380.