Truck Driving

Program Information

The Truck Driving program at H. Councill Trenholm State Community College is designed to prepare the students to operate vehicles requiring a commercial driver’s license. A six-week, non-credit Truck Driving program is offered that utilizes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) model curriculum as the foundation for training and takes the student from basic through advanced operation of a tractor/trailer. Additionally, courses taught include safe operation practices and non-vehicle activities which are not directly related to the vehicle but which must be performed by the operator. Information is presented in an intensive question and answer format to provide the most efficient and cost-effective method for preparing a student for a commercial driver’s license

Occupational Choices

Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The economy depends on truck drivers to transport freight and keep supply chains moving. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed. Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States, so, as households and businesses increase their spending, the trucking industry should grow.

Technological advancements should result in trucks that are more fuel efficient and easier to drive. For example, automatic transmissions, blind spot monitoring, braking assistance, and variable cruise control are all recently developed features that may become more standard throughout the trucking industries within the next decade. In addition, technological advances may lead to further developments in platooning, which is a method of transport where several trucks form a line and automatically mimic the speed, braking, and steering behaviors of the lead truck. These technologies can help ease driver burden and create a safer driving environment for all vehicles.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm (visited January 30, 2024).

Average Full-Time Wage

The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $49,920 in May 2022. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,220.

Additional Requirements

Students entering the Truck Driving Program must have a valid driver’s license, be at least eighteen (18) years of age for a class “A” CDL and successfully pass a DOT physical which includes a drug screen, and present a current Motor Vehicle Report (MVR). Prior to being enrolled, students must obtain the Alabama Commercial Drivers Learner’s Permit and are subject to DOT random drug testing rules. This program does not accept any “English as a second language” applicants.

Duration

Class A (180 Hours)

5 days per week
34 hours per week for 6 weeks

Class B (76 Hours)

3 days per week
3 days, 19 hours per week for 4 weeks

Financial Assistance

100% funding is available through the Alabama Career Center. For information regarding eligibility and application for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), please contact an Alabama Career Center.

Montgomery Career Center
334-286-1746

Location

Truck Driving Training Center is located at 5420 Troy Highway, Montgomery, AL 36116

Awards Available

Certificate
Truck Driving Certificate

Program Contact

Dean Faust
Program Coordinator/Instructor
334-420-4406
dfaust@trenholmstate.edu
Location: 5420 Troy Highway

Estimated Program Length & Cost *

Award	Length	Tuition/Fees	Books
Certificate - Class A	6 Weeks (180 Hours)	$3,175	$0
Certificate - Class B	4 Weeks (76 Hours)	$1,425	$0

* Tax not included. Prices are subject to change without prior notice; the cost of books may vary considerably among suppliers. The length of the program is based on full-time status of 12-15 credit hours per term. Enrollment in transitional-level general education courses will alter the length of the program.

Registration Steps

Complete Workforce Development Application
Turn in the required documents

Payment Options

MasterCard, Visa, or Discover
Cash Payment (check, money order, or cash)
WIOA funding to cover the cost of this program,
Please contact your local Alabama Career Center at 334-286-1746

Required Documents for the Truck Driving Program

Proof of Negative Drug Testing
DOT Physical with no restrictions
Motor Vehicle Report
Current Valid Driver’s License
CDL Driver’s Permit

Courses Required for Truck Driving Certificate

(This program is non-credit and is not Pell Grant eligible)

Basic Truck Driving
Advanced Truck Driving
Non-Vehicle Activities
Vehicle Maintenance
Safe Operating Practices

Total Clock Hours: 180

All Truck Driving Information
can be found on the Trenholm State website at:
https://www.trenholmstate.edu/cdl-truck-driving-certified/

Course Descriptions

Basic Truck Driving

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of becoming a professional commercial motor vehicle driver. Topics include orientation, control systems, vehicle inspections and reporting, basic control, shifting, backing, coupling and uncoupling, proficiency development, and special rigs. Upon completion, the student should demonstrate proficiency in skill field tasks and pre-trip inspections to Commercial Drivers License standards.

Advanced Truck Driving

This course offers proper defensive driving techniques applicable to the commercial motor vehicle driver and involves the interaction between the student/vehicle and the highway traffic environment. Topics include visual search, communication, speed and space management, night operation, extreme driving conditions, and proficiency development. Upon completion, the student should demonstrate basic operating skills that ensure the safety of the driver and other vehicle operators to Commercial Drivers License standards.

Non-Vehicle Activities

This course focuses on activities not directly related to the vehicle itself but that are related to the potential job performance of the commercial motor vehicle driver. Topics include preparation for CDL permit, entry-level CMV driver basics (qualification, wellness, hours of service, whistleblower protection), handling cargo, cargo documentation, hours of service requirements, accident procedures, personal health and safety, trip planning, employability skills, and public and employer relations. Upon completion, the student will demonstrate the performance of these activities to Commercial Drivers License standards to ensure the safety of the driver, vehicle, cargo, and other motorists.

Vehicle Maintenance

This course introduces students to the various components of the vehicle and how they work in order that malfunctions and safety hazards may be recognized before serious damages or accidents occur. Topics include vehicle systems, preventive maintenance and servicing, and diagnosing and reporting malfunctions. Upon completion, the student should be able to perform routine service functions and simple maintenance tasks and recognize when a vehicle needs repairs.

Safe Operation Practices

This course is designed for extended high level skills training for coping with hazards of the roadway traffic environment. Topics include hazard perception, emergency maneuvers, and skid control and recovery. Upon completion, the student should demonstrate perceptual skills for recognition of potential hazards as well as the manipulative skills needed to handle the vehicle in an emergency.