Vernon College awarded grant to expand truck driving program -

VERNON, Texas (KAUZ) – The Texas Workforce Commission awarded Vernon College $142,500 to go towards improving its truck driving program.

In the first year of this grant, the funding will help train 96 students to obtain their CDL.

The American Trucking Association estimated the industry is short at least 80,000 drivers in the nation, and with the constant need for products and services in Texas alone, Vernon College is looking to assist in filling in this gap to meet the distribution need.

The campus was able to expand the program, filing for the T.R.U.E Grant last year through the Texas Workforce Commission.

“We managed to get three simulators out of it. We got a 2022 Peterbilt 579 and we took the beds out of the back we converted it and put seats in the back, and we can take five students out with one instructor at a time and they can learn from each other as we are going down the road. It makes it great,” Truck Driving Instructor at Vernon College Eric Miller said.

Thanks to the grant, instructors can now teach 12 students at a time in the five-week course, first learning about pre-trip.

The college also purchased three simulators with different variants of semi-trucks, preparing them for any scenario they may face behind the wheel.

“It definitely gets them to start watching their mirrors, to start watching the surroundings. The simulators do a very good job with blind spots. Most trucks have blind spots behind us; the simulator doesn’t let you see anything behind you. So that students start getting a grasp on stuff like that like watching pedestrians and the cars pulling out in front of them.” Miller explained.

Vernon College is offering courses for its truck driving program on the Vernon campus this year. The VC campus is located at 4400 College Drive in Vernon.

In the five-week course, students learn through simulators, classroom instruction, range and road driving and practical application. Students will be prepared to take the required written and driving exam for obtaining a Class A Commercial Driver’s License. Upon completing the course, students can receive a CDL, a certificate of completion and have the qualifications necessary for an entry-level commercial motor vehicle driving job.

According to VC, the transportation industry and demand for well-trained drivers are growing. Within the Vernon-Wichita Falls area, a commercial motor vehicle driver can earn from $45,000 to $74,000 a year. That’s $21.63 to $35.58 an hour.

Program Part I courses take place roughly every six weeks, beginning in January. The available courses occur during the following periods:

Dates	Class times
March 18 – April 18	Mondays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 22 – May 23	Mondays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
June 3 – July 3	Mondays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 15 – August 15	Mondays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
August 19 – September 19	TBA

Before beginning Part I of the program, students must also be registered and fully pay for Part II. Keep in mind that students will be required to have a Department of Transportation Medical Card and clean drug screen prior to class. Learn more about a CMV driver’s physical requirements here.

Students must also obtain a copy of their driving record from the Texas DPS office with three years of driving history.

Students 18 years or older are eligible to take the course. They must bring a valid drivers license as well as pay $500 towards tuition at the time of registration.

VC estimates the total cost of obtaining a CDL includes the total of $4,000 for tuition, DPS fees (which vary), $100 for a DOT physical and drug screen and $106 for the course book and other supplies. If you need assistance paying for the VC Truck Driving Program, the following contacts are available to help:

Region IX Xochitl Pruit: 940-322-6928
Texas Workforce Solutions: 940-322-1801
VC Continuing Education Scholarship: 940-696-8752 ext. 3213

Housing is also available at the VC campus for $200 per five-week course. To learn more about the course and its requirements, click here.

For those with an expired CDL looking only to “re-up” their training, VC provides a two-day course for $600. Those interested can contact the instructor Miller at [email protected] or call 940-552-6291 ext. 2375.

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