“A CDL produces skilled workers in a high-demand occupation. CDL is and will probably always be a top-five demand occupation nationally and definitely in Ohio,” Hodge said. “Our students are averaging an annual first-year income of $85,000 to $90,000. A commercial driver’s license changes lives dramatically in the first year.”
Clark State is receiving a $126,000 investment to expand its Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training, according to information from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s office. The college received $200,000 from the first round of funding in December 2023 to help recruit and enroll students.
“These funds provide training grants for students from underserved communities who typically cannot afford CDL training,” Hodge said. “The funds will not affect program capacity, rather it will provide the opportunity for individuals who cannot afford CDL training to enroll in the program.”
The CDL-A Truck Driver weekday and weekend training programs normally cost $6,000. Both have 40 hours of classroom instruction, but the weekday training has 120 hours of truck training, and the weekend program has 80 hours. Weekday training is four weeks long from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the weekend training is six weeks long from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Classroom instruction includes hazmat training, log books and hours of service, coupling and uncoupling, vehicle inspection, map reading and trip planning, defensive driving practices, job search training and job placement assistance. Truck training includes pre-trip inspections, backing skills, coupling/uncoupling of a tractor trailer, safe driving techniques and all other required training.
“Training more commercial vehicle drivers helps meet local demand for skilled workers and equips Ohioans with the skills they need for careers in trucking and other industries,” Brown said.
The CDL-B Endorsement Program costs $3,750. It’s an 80-hour program that starts with 40 hours of classroom and 40 hours of road and range training. All tuition costs include all truck driver training materials, physical, drug screen, CDL permit, CDL test and CDL license fees.
The college also offers a Tractor-Trailer Refresher Program that costs $3,500. This is a three-week course for experienced truck drivers who have a valid Class “A” CDLs and need to refresh their skills before going back to work. The course is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and consists of 120 hours of road and range training.
Brown’s office said the investment was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Program discretionary (competitive) grant program seeks to reduce the severity and number of crashes on our roads involving CMVs by expanding the number of commercial driver’s license holders possessing enhanced operator safety training,” Hodge said. “The priority set by Congress is to assist entities that recruit and train those who fall within underserved communities, such as Clark State College.”
For more information about the program, visit www.clarkstate.edu/community/workforce-solutions/cdl-training.
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