WATERLOO — Hawkeye Community College’s Trucking with the Troops program got a boost this week when it was presented with a $200,000 grant.
Robin Hutcheson, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, toured the college’s Regional Transportation Training Center on Tuesday and presented the grant during a press conference.
“We’re proud that these grants are giving priority to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard, Reservists, and their family members, to pursue a commercial driver’s license,” said Hutcheson. “We are changing lives while filling a huge need for truck drivers.”
Trucking with the Troops is designed to assist current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces with earning a commercial driver’s license. For qualifying individuals, the grant pays 100% of tuition and fees. That covers the commercial learner’s permit, the Department of Transportation physical and drug test, and the commercial driver’s license.
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Hawkeye Community College is presented with a $200,000 grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Tuesday. Robin Hutcheson, head of the agency, is in the front row on the right.
This is the eighth consecutive year Hawkeye has received FMCSA funding for the program. Since 2016, the college has received a total of $830,138, which has helped 153 veterans and their families receive training and find employment.
“Truck drivers are in demand and the need for drivers is expected to increase over the next several years,” explained Hawkeye’s Aaron Sauerbrei, vice president of strategic partnerships and workforce education.
“More than 72% of all freight is delivered by truck. Truck drivers are the essential workers who keep our economy moving with the delivery of groceries, construction materials and other goods.”
Hutcheson’s visit also highlighted federal grant awards to Des Moines Area and Eastern Iowa community colleges in support of their commercial driver’s license training programs. Megan Ellsworth of Des Moines Area Community College and Liang Chee Wee of Eastern Iowa Community College in Davenport participated in the event.
Iowa Workforce Development projects more than 1,300 openings each year for truck drivers in Iowa through 2024. Wages for the average truck driving job in Iowa range from $35,200 to $57,800, according to the agency.
The “grant will help prepare local drivers to fill these critical positions,” said Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, on hand to introduce Hutcheson. Funds were available through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“What I especially love about this commitment is the focus on underserved communities,” he noted. “I also want to acknowledge the Biden Administration and the secretary of transportation, my dear friend Pete Buttigieg, for their leadership and funding support to help make these initiatives possible.”
For more information about Trucking with the Troops, go online to hawkeyecollege.edu/trucking-with-troops.
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