Officials from Heartland Career Center have announced that after two years of planning, local students are getting ready to participate in a spring training focused on earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
“This has been a partnership between Heartland Career Center, Wabash Learning Center (Ivy Tech), Grow Wabash County, Driving Dynamics Center for Transportation Safety CTS Driving Academy and countless others to make this happen,” says Mark Hobbs, Heartland Career Center’s Director. “We have taken our time, worked with many local businesses and our partners to create a pathway for students of all ages to earn a CDL A License. Our interest has focused on high school students; however, the program has developed into an opportunity for students of all ages.”
The high school students will start the CDL A internship at Heartland on March 2. The program includes a 10-week course of both written classroom work and actual driving time, ending with students taking their CDL A test.
The cost to students is simply the cost of their physical and drug screen, learners permit and driver’s license. Each student is required to be at least 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and be willing to take and pass a Department of Transportation physical and drug screen. Students who are interested in taking the course next year are currently enrolling in the program through their high schools guidance counselors.
This program has also been broadened to reach adult learners desiring to get a CDL A license. According to Josh Blossom, Director of the Wabash Learning Center, the classroom portion of the course will be offered over a one-week period starting the first week in April, the sixth through tenth from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.
The classroom portion will be followed by driving time throughout the months of April and May, ending May 15.
The cost for the program for adults is approximately $4,500. Scholarships will be made available to students through the Wabash Learning Center.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for the community,” said Blossom. “In addition to the license, we have expanded Ivy Tech Logistics college credits for students that successfully complete the course.”
For more specifics, contact Josh Blossom at the Wabash Learning Center 260-563-8828.
The Community Foundation of Wabash County, several community school corporations transportation departments, Republic Services, Strauss Veal Feeds, Wabash Trucking, and the Wabash County Fair Board have helped to make this program possible.
“The Grow Wabash County team is thrilled that a commercial driver’s license program is coming to Wabash County as truck driving is consistently ranked in the top for most job openings in Indiana,” said Tenille Zartman, Vice President Grow Wabash County. “This demand is only projected to have continued growth. With high median wages, these are the types of jobs we want to see grow here locally and we are excited to have helped play a part in brining that program here.”