Truck-driving school start date changed

Published 2:05 am Saturday, June 30, 2012

The start date for a joint BCCC and Pamlico Community College truck driver-training program has been changed.
Classes will start July 17 and run until Nov. 4 in the program designed to train students to drive a tractor-trailer and help them obtain their Class-A commercial driver’s licenses.
The truck-driving school is operated by the Division of Continuing Education at each college.
The program will include 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 and will be road-tested.
Students will be required to participate in human-resources development and career-readiness training. This course work will give students time to preview job openings in their chosen course of study, help them develop the skills they need to get a job in their chosen field and allow them to obtain the nationally recognized Career Readiness Certificate.
The course will take about 16 weeks to complete.
Class will be from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Driving practice will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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.
All students are required to have their CDL 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 and MasterCard. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Samantha Whitehurst, P.O. Box 1069, Washington, NC 27889.
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.
For more information about the class, interested persons may contact Crosby, at (252) 940-6262, or by email at davidc@beaufortccc.edu or J. Richard Garrett II, director of Continuing Education and Program Audits, at PCCC at (252) 249-1851, extension 3015, or by email at Rgarrett@pamlicocc.edu.