Federal Grant Helps PCC Promote CDL Course

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – CDL (commercial driver’s license) operators carry a lot of responsibility in the country. In addition to hauling more than 70 percent of the freight in the United States, those with a CDL operate school buses and more.

The number of drivers is projected to decline despite how heavily the economy depends on CDL operators.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there will be only 160,000 truck drivers in the country, which they say is too few to meet demand. Millions of dollars have been allocated from department funds across the country to combat the cuts. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FCMSA) to help spread the word about CDL opportunities.

For some southern Arizona residents, obtaining a CDL means taking a step toward financial independence.

“I can’t tell you how many students cried in the driver’s seat after I tested them on the state test,” Missy Blair said.

Blair is the Academic Director of the Transportation and Logistics Center at Pima Community College (PCC)—PCC is one of the grant recipients.

PCC typically enrolls 100 students in its CDL program, Blair said. The program requires 184 hours of training; however, the number of hours did not meet the criteria required for federal financial assistance, so PCC applied for an FCMSA grant.

The grant will help PCC provide scholarships to students so they can afford tuition. Priority will be given to veterans and students from low-income communities, who make up more than 50 percent of the program’s student body.

It’s an effort that comes close to Blair’s.

“I’m a veteran too, so this is near and dear to my heart,” she said.

“Here in Tucson, we are very connected to the military community between Davis Monthan Air Force Base, the Air and Army Guard, and Fort Huachuca—those are still in our service area if people want to take advantage of this grant. “

Former students also spoke about the benefits of the CDL course.

Doreen Mitchell took the course and paid for it using her husband’s GI Bill. She hopes the FMCSA grant will allow more students, especially veterans, to take the course.

“With a CDL, it’s a great opportunity for spouses to work anywhere. This is a great opportunity even for the veterans themselves and financial freedom.”

To learn more about the PCC CDL program, Click here.

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