VGCC joins the trucking industry in a weeklong celebration of the millions of professional truck drivers who deliver America’s freight safely and securely every day.
“The nation’s truckers are the lifeblood of our economy—delivering critical goods to farms, factories, stores, hospitals, and homes,” said Dr. Jerry Edmonds, VGCC Vice President of Workforce & Community Engagement. “National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is a time to rally around our professional truck drivers and show them the appreciation they deserve every day. We are thrilled to recognize these men and women who show their dedication, perseverance, and determination on our nation’s highways.”
The American Trucking Associations launched the annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in 1988 to recognize the vital contributions of truck drivers to our daily lives and the economy. This year’s celebration runs from September 15-21.
There are roughly 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide, delivering the essential goods from food to fuel to medicine to clothing. The hard-working men and women behind the wheel safely transport more than 11 billion tons of goods and products every year, accounting for more than 70% of America’s total annual freight. 80% of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking to deliver goods.
Supporting Local Workers
Vance-Granville has actively supported trucking in its four-county service area since launching a CDL (commercial driver’s license) program in 2020. Originally offered in collaboration with Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, VGCC’s program achieved the criteria to run independently in late 2023. To date, 290 VGCC students have graduated from the nine-week program, many of whom have been hired immediately or gone on to open their own trucking business. The College’s next Truck Driver Training course begins in October.
“Vance-Granville was thrilled in January 2024 to become an independent entry-level truck driver training school,” said Kyle Burwell, Dean of Business & Industry Solutions at the VGCC. “We are honored to support our local workforce by providing programming that allows graduates to hit the ground running in a new, lucrative career.”
This year, Vance-Granville Community College asks you to join us and American Trucking Associations (ATA) in recognizing the significant contributions our professional truck drivers make to our lives. To learn more about the trucking industry and NTDAW 2024, please visit the American Trucking Associations website.
About VGCC Truck Driver Training Program
CDL students must be at least 18 years old and have a valid North Carolina driver’s license. They must also read and speak English well enough to take instructions from highway signs, to converse with officials, and to complete the required reports. Additional requirements and payment deadlines are available on the Truck Driver Training program page.
Costs for the required DOT physical and drug screen, N.C. Motor Vehicle Record, permit, and license are not included in the $1,200 tuition/fees.
The Truck Driver Training program is approved for funding by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Unemployed and underemployed individuals may qualify for tuition vouchers to take the course.
For more information about the program, contact CDL Coordinator Kelvin Sharpe at sharpek@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3408.
