MIDLAND On Oct. 27, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board notified Midland College officials that the college’s Transportation Training (truck driving) program will receive $166,423 through the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Education (TRUE) Institutional Capacity Grant Program.
The program is funded by the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.
“We will use these funds to purchase two trailers and a forklift and to develop new curriculum for truck driving,” Jennifer Myers, MC associate vice president of Workforce, said. “With the demand for competent truck drivers increasing, Midland College’s current capacity for teaching is limited due to available equipment. The grant will enable us to expand our capacity and develop curriculum that incorporates additional safety training with truck driving skills for both experienced and novice truck drivers.”
MC’s Transportation Training classes are composed of 200 hours, combining classroom and hands-on training. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive Class A Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) with the option to obtain endorsements in Hazmat, Doubles, Triples and Tankers.
As has been reported by local and national media, the current shortage of truck drivers is a big part of the United States’ supply chain problems.
The U.S. trucking industry is short 80,000 drivers, an all-time high for the industry, according to the American Trucking Association. Truck drivers move 71 percent of the US economy’s goods, making truck driving one of the ten largest industries in America.
Regionally, more truck drivers are also needed in the Permian Basin to help meet transportation demands associated with increased oil and gas activity.
In keeping with its mission of providing in-demand jobs for West Texas citizens, Midland College is helping to supply the local economy with professional truck drivers and provide training in a high-demand, competitive wage profession for Permian Basin residents.
