Truck driver program offers quick results, steady job placement
By Lori Nimke
IV Leader Staff
While Illinois Valley Community College is a place for many
students to study general education and receive degrees in academic fields, the
Truck Driver Training Program is one the college's most successful occupational
programs.
According to student Wayne Sissel, "The Illinois Valley
Community College Truck Driver Program is an awesome program."
Sissel said he learned a lot in a short period of time under the direction of
three dedicated instructors at the IVCC truck driving school. He is part of the
current graduating class and is looking forward to working in his new
profession.
The cost of the Truck Driving program is $3,205, and it lasts
for four intense weeks from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
Evening classes are also offered and last for six weeks, and "Accommodate those
working third shift," said Bruce Hartman, program coordinator.
In addition to the short time period between training and
employment, another positive draw for the students is the high level of need for
employees.
The driver shortage is currently at 22,000. Typically, 140
students will graduate from the program within a year, with the job placement at
98 percent. Nearly, 750 have passed through the doors of the IVCC Truck Driving
program in the first six years of operation.
The average age of a truck driver training student is 44
years old. Seven percent of the students are women and the age range is 18 to 72
years, making for a diverse group of students.
Graduates have had easy access to job openings due to the
college welcoming job recruitment on campus.
Recruiters actually come right into the classroom. There are
currently nine companies that recruit on campus. Each is given 45 minutes to
make a presentation to the class. The college chooses these company's based on
student feedback.
Hartman feels the future is bright for this fast growing program.
"We have good support and communication with those in the
IVCC administration and a great staff,” said Hartman. "I'm an optimist, and I
love working at this school."
The truck driving students begin their training and
instruction by spending the first week in the classroom preparing for a written
skills test in order to receive a driving permit.
As Hartman stated, "The test consists of 75 questions with
some of those areas being broken down into general knowledge, air brakes and
combination."
After passing the exam and receiving the permit, then the
education continues in the yard with skill testing.
After graduation the education doesn't end. There may be
ongoing education within a company itself in learning to drive and operate
different types of trucks.
Hartman said, "We train them in a no frills truck and this
prepares them to drive just about anything."
The IVCC Truck Driver Education program prides itself on its
safety record, of "close to 100 percent," said Hartman.
There are currently nine instructors, and some of the main
reasons they where chosen was for their ability to communicate, their experience
and their outstanding safety records in driving.
Hartman drove a truck for around 15 years. He also came to
IVCC with over 10 years of experience in safety management and investigating
truck accidents.
When asked about how he dealt with the change from traveling
a lot to driving to the college daily, Hartman stated, "After 22 years of
traveling it took about 1½ years to get used to being home everyday."
He was interviewed around six years ago for the position of
program coordinator, after trucking company owner and now state Sen. Gary Dahl
had approached the IVCC board with the idea of a Truck Driver Training Program
in response to the area driver shortage.