There’s been a big increase in the demand for truck drivers in recent years and Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) is making moves to meet that demand and train more drivers in the future.
To that end, the community college is currently seeking approval from the State of North Carolina to build a Truck Drive Track at its Greensboro campus.
This week, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve a request from the school to construct a truck drive track at the Greensboro campus to be used as part of the college’s truck driver training program.
According to county documents describing the plan and its financing, “Semi-trailer trucks are heavy and require specially constructed pads to accommodate their weight. The total cost of the project is $5,000,000 and GTCC, through the County’s participation and support, received a federal grant from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration in the amount of $1,741,378. The State is providing … funds in the amount of $3,258,622. No County funds are required for this project.”
The State Of North Carolina requires county notification and approval as part of the State’s certification process for this type of capital project – so the commissioners must sign off on this $5 million project.
The good news is that, after the completion of the track, it’s not expected to require any future county dollars for maintenance and operation.
GTCC officials point out that, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.”
GTCC offers a comprehensive training program meant to teach students enough to pass the state test for large truck drivers and also provide them “hands-on driving practice” – something the new track will help with immensely.
Scholarships are available to help cover program costs for those interested in becoming truck drivers.
Students seeking admission to the GTCC Truck Driver Training Program must be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen or permanent resident alien and pass a Department of Transportation physical exam and meet several other requirements.
In addition to funds for the track, this week the county is also expected to pass along to the state a request from the community college for a new air Handler unit in Davis Hall at the Jamestown campus. GTCC previously allocated $450,000 of its annual capital maintenance funds allocated from Guilford County towards that project.
Question about your CDL class. I went to NC Works and they will pay my fee’s as both a veteran and recently released from Federal Prison. Is your class getting ready to start and are their several start dates since the class normally lasts 3 to 4 weeks. Lastly, do you administer the actual dmv driving test and give out the license?
Sincerely
Dennis lyon
Dennis,
I’m a current student in Truck Driver Training at GTCC on Wendover.
Here is what I can tell you:
I’m in a class that runs on the weekends: Friday night 6p-10p, Saturday 7a-6p, Sunday 7a-6p. The weekend class runs 16 weeks. (the regular class runs M-F 8a-5p and lasts 8 weeks)
ALL of the schedules for the 8 and 16 week classes can be found here and most of the info about the class:
https://www.gtcc.edu/academics/academic-programs/programs/workforce-development-corporate-training/occupational-training/commercial-drivers-license-training.php
Scroll down until you see Truck Driver Training Classes, dont stop at the Commercial Driver License Exam prep class…you don’t really need that. The CDL permit test is pretty easy.
BEFORE you try to register or call the school, you need to get the following:
A Class A driver’s permit (you take 3 tests for this at the Driver License Office: (general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles)
Department of Transportation physical; (get this from just about any urgent care…I went to a nearby FastMed)
Drug screening done separately (you’ll get instructions on how to do that)
Three-year noncertified driving history (if you have a bad driving record, they are probably not going to let you in)
All DMV tests are done on campus…the state examiners come to us so that we can use the school trucks/equipment to test. When we pass the driving and knowledge tests, we are given a certificate to take to the Driver License Office that will make them take our new picture and issue our new CDL-A license.
As far as class goes, it is challenging. If you have previously driven a stick shift automobile or truck, it will be just a little easier in the beginning. Backing up has been tough, but I’m getting the hang of it. The rules and regs tests haven’t been too bad, but a little bit of study is required so that it doesn’t sneak up on you. The instructors are fair, but do get hard on you as you go because the skills they are trying to teach get more difficult AND because ultimately YOU will be operating a 80,000 lb vehicle on the road with 3000-4000 lb cars…it’s serious and the instructors want you to know it.
If you decide to take the plunge, GOOD LUCK!! Once you graduate THERE IS $$$ TO BE MADE ON THE ROAD!!!!!