South Georgia Technical College Crisp County Center construction on Commercial Truck Driving training range
CORDELE, Ga. – South Georgia Technical College is set to unveil a significant new development at its Crisp County Center.
The college is currently constructing a Commercial Truck Driving training range at its satellite campus in Cordele.
The project is well underway and is expected to be completed before the fall semester begins in August.
“We have a class, it’s an 8 week program. It’s 1800 bucks. Most of our students, they qualify for the HOPE grant and it pays for the majority of the class. And, we usually hold classes Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. So, after the 8 week is over, you can test out to get your actual cdl and you’ll have a career for life after you have only a small eight week period,” said Taylor Hughes, South Georgia Technical College, CDL instructor.
“Our campus is just a few hundred yards off of I-75 and exit 102 and with I-75 and Highway 300 intersecting and as much industry is there is in Cordele as well as the inland port Cordele. It just made sense that we needed to share that program with the Cordele campus as well,” said Dr. John Watford, President, South Georgia Technical College.
The addition of the nearly five-acre asphalt range will allow instructors to teach commercial truck driving classes at the Crisp County Center campus, offering convenient access for the Crisp county community.
Dr. John Watford, President of SGTC, provides insight into the significant impact that the cdl classes will have, benefiting both South Georgia Technical College students and the Crisp County community.
“South Georgia tech has had commercial truck driving for several decades here in Americus, Georgia at our main campus. The truck driving industry is desperate for truck drivers. There are over 6000 truck driving jobs active available right now. Indeed, alone, there are over 1500 in Georgia, and that’s just on that one website. So, there’s a desperate need for truckers, men and women to drive trucks,” said Dr. Watford.
Taylor Hughes, South Georgia Technical College CDL instructor, shares how individuals can enroll in this program.
“Make sure you apply online before August the 15th for our next class, and we’ll have a new class every two months. And, to get into the class, you need a CDL Class a permit, a DOT physical and a seven year motor vehicle report,” said Hughes.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
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