By Chris Craddock and Gem Meachem
Hit the open road with the help of Kilgore College—and make good money in the process.
If you’re looking for a job that combines independence with big paychecks, getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) might just be the key to your new career.
Big-rig drivers can easily earn up to $60,000 annually, and many East Texas-based driver openings start at $40,000.
KC is one of the nation’s most experienced driver training schools—one noted for the excellence of its graduates since 2001.
“Our program is based on safety, classroom instruction and hands-on driving,” said Martha Woodruff, KC Workforce Development Director. “With an emphasis on hands-on driving, students learn the practical application of what they have been taught.”
The KC Commercial Driving Academy offers a variety of options for both the novice and experienced driver.
COURSES FOR NEW DRIVERS
Daytime classes for those who are new to the field start every three weeks from November 2009 through May 2010. This course can also be taught in the evening and on weekends.
The “CDL Class A” course is a 120-hour course designed for individuals who have no prior experience in driving a commercial vehicle.
Topics include an overview of the State of Texas Class A Commercial Driver’s License written examination, truck safety, traffic congestion, general truck driving skills and extreme driving conditions. Emphasis will be placed on air brake, HazMat and trailer endorsements. KC pre-screens all applicants.
Cost for the “CDL Class A” course is affordable at $3,400, or $28 per hour. Two-thirds of the course involves in-the-truck observation as well as hands-on, behind-the-wheel driving in an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig.
COURSES FOR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS
KC can tailor courses for experienced drivers which can be scheduled upon demand.
Graduates of the program can transport goods including cars, livestock and other materials in liquid, loose or packaged form. Many routes are from city to city and cover long distances. Some truck drivers have regular runs to transport freight to the same city on a regular basis.
Other drivers perform runs because shippers request varying services to different cities every day. Long-distance truck drivers spend most of their working time behind the wheel, but also may have to load or unload their cargo.
The U.S. Department of Transportation requires that drivers keep a log of their activities, the condition of the truck and the circumstances of any accidents. East Texas companies use many drivers in oil field, manufacturing and delivery positions.
FOCUS ON SAFETY
Knowledge of safety is something that will benefit drivers down the road when obtaining extra endorsements on their licenses, like the hazardous materials endorsement.
A HazMat endorsement shows that drivers not only have completed their CDLs, but also have knowledge of the materials they are hauling. In fact, drivers cannot haul certain materials unless they are HazMat endorsed, which is an option under the “CDL Class A” is training.
KC stresses that students should get all the endorsements they can, even if they don’t necessarily need them right now. For every endorsement drivers have on top of the minimum requirement, the more attractive they are to employers than an average driver.
All CDL courses are Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) eligible.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
A series of information sessions will be held January-August 2010. The instructors will be available to review course materials and to answer questions. The information sessions are free and will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Bert E. Woodruff Adult Education Center in Kilgore. Dates are posted on sidebar on this page.
For more information about “CDL Class A” and for a list of experienced driver topics, please call (903) 983-8288.
For a schedule of “CDL Class A” classes check out the KC Web site: http://www.kilgore.edu/cdl.asp.
Brenda Brown