Commercial Truck Driver Training and CDL refresher course scheduled to begin July 12 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Classes will begin July 12, 2011, for a new session of Beaufort County Community College's commercial truck driver training program, a 429 - hour course developed to help fill the need for truck drivers in the area while providing employment opportunities for area residents. Portions of this course (120 hours) will also function as a CDL refresher course.

    The truck driver training program is operated by BCCC's Division of Continuing Education and will provide the opportunity for students to learn the skills needed to obtain a Class - A Commercial Driver's License. The HRD/CRC component of this class will provide students time to preview job openings in the truck driving field, assist in developing the tools necessary to acquire a truck driving position, and will afford students the distinction of achieving a nationally recognized workplace Career Readiness Certificate to complement and enhance job related qualifications.

    The commercial truck driving program will be held 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Driving hours will vary. Truck driving class work will be conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Building 7 on the BCCC campus. CRC training will occur on Wednesdays, in room 823 of Building 8. The class is scheduled to run through August 28.

    Those enrolled in the refresher course will join the class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for driving practice.

    This course will take approximately 16 weeks to complete and will include classroom instruction, range work, and behind-the-wheel driving of a class - A vehicle (tractor-trailer). Range work will provide students with practice to develop off-road skills on which, CDL candidates will be tested. Over-the-road training will include intrastate driving experience as well as a variety of hours in both day and night driving. Students will be road tested by Beaufort County Community College's third party examiner.

    The registration fee for the course is $175. In addition there will be a $40 random drug test fee and a career readiness testing fee of $30. The total due at registration is $245. The fee for the refresher course is also $245.

    The required textbooks and materials for both the class and the refresher course include: $51.75 for the main textbook, the road atlas is $26.25, the logbook is $6.00, the logbook trainer is $5.00, and the FMCSR Pocket Book is $5.25. The total for all of the books is $94.25. These books are available in the BCCC bookstore (book prices subject to change).

    All students are required to have their NC Department of Transportation Health Card and DOT drug test, along with all fees, at the time of registration. Students are also required to have their CDL Class-A Permit on the first day of class. Obtaining this permit is done through the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Students who already have a CDL Class-A Permit should check to make sure they will have a valid permit for the duration of the course. Please note that students will be subject to random drug screening throughout the duration of the course as required by NCDMV.

    Students should register for the truck driving program in person in room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. Class size is limited to 24 students. For more information about the class, interested persons may contact David Crosby at 940-6262. BCCC accepts Visa and MasterCard. Checks may be made payable to Beaufort County Community College.