Classes in the truck driver-training school at Beaufort County Community College begin Jan 22.
The school prepares students to drive a tractor-trailer and help them obtain their Class-A commercial driver’s licenses.
The school is operated by the Division of Continuing Education at BCCC, in association with Pamlico Community College.
It includes classroom instruction, driving range instruction and behind-the-wheel driving of a Class A combination vehicle. Students will gain experience driving during various hours of the day and night. They will be road tested by BCCC’s third-party examiner.
Students are required to participate in Career Readiness Certificate training. This work will give them the opportunity to obtain the nationally recognized Career Readiness Certificate.
The course will take about 16 weeks to complete. It is scheduled to end May 18, 2013.
Class are from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Driving practice will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and it will include off-road vehicle control skills and road trips.
The cost of the program is $245, including $175 for the CDL class and three initial road tests, a $40 fee for a random drug test and a $30 CRC testing fee. Textbooks and other required materials are an additional $103.75. The fee for an additional road test, if needed, is $125.
A limited number of scholarships from the Golden LEAF Foundation may be available for students who qualify.
All students are required to have their commercial driving license permit, Department of Transportation health card and original drug test at the time of registration. Students will be subjected to random drug screening throughout the course.
Class size is limited to 24 students.
Graduates of BCCC’s truck-driving school can expect to earn between $25,000 and $35,000 their first year of work, according to David Crosby, director of fire-training programs and special projects at BCCC.
Students may register by calling 252-940-6375 or in person in Building 8, Room 802, on the BCCC campus. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, P.O. Box 1069, Washington, NC 27889.
For more information about the class, including information about financial aid, interested persons can contact Crosby, at 252-940-6262, by fax at 252-940-6484 or by email at davidc@beaufortccc.edu.
Pamlico County residents may register or obtain more information about the class by calling Richard Garrett, chair of PCC Continuing Education and Program Audits, at 252-249-1851 ext. 3015 or by email at Rgarrett@pamlicocc.edu.
The course will begin on the scheduled date and time pending sufficient student enrollment for the class. Otherwise, the course may be postponed or canceled.