A white polar bear wearing a red scarf waved from the passenger’s seat of an 18-wheeler as it drove through a ceremonial ribbon to cheers Tuesday in front of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
The big rig was one of two that Montgomery’s Coca-Cola United had just donated to the Alabama Community College System to help meet rising truck driver workforce demand in Alabama. Those drivers are a key need here and across the state, educators say.
“We’ve listened to the trucking industry, and we know the need is overwhelming for qualified truck drivers to help meet the increasing demand of the state,” Alabama Community College System Vice Chancellor Susan Price said. “The need is great, and today’s donation will help expand our ability to allow more students access to real-life training, right in their communities.”
Since institutions like Montgomery’s Trenholm State Community College began offering the commercial driver’s training required to obtain a commercial driver’s license, Price said Alabama community colleges have trained over 10,000 truck drivers for the state.
Trenholm State President Kemba Chambers said the truck driving program is the largest workforce development program at the school, and it continues to grow.
“Within the last year, we have seen a 25% increase in enrollment,” Chambers said. “Because of the huge demand and recognizing the massive number of job openings for truck drivers, the college most recently established a second truck driver location in west Montgomery. With two locations serving the River Region, partnerships, resources and donations, such as this today provided by Coca Cola United States, will enable Trenholm State to enhance and expand our CDL program.”
Program alumnus Walter Moses spoke at the gathering Tuesday about the value he found in truck driving. He started working for Coca-Cola United in 2016 in a warehouse job.
“I enjoyed the role, but I wanted more for my career and for my family,” Moses said.
In the summer of 2022, he enrolled in the training program at Trenholm State, and six weeks later he had his commercial driving license and a new job.
“Students just like me will be able to use these trucks,” Moses said. “I am proud to be an example of Coca-Cola and the trucks that they are donating today.”
Hadley Hitson covers the rural South for the Montgomery Advertiser and Report for America. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work,subscribe to the Advertiser ordonate to Report for America.
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