HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College announced May 19 that it received $10,500 from the Alabama Community College Systems in a rapid, special-request grant. The award will allow the college to upgrade its disability-accessible truck used for CDL training.
“This project responds to an immediate workforce development need in north-central Alabama,” said Kristi Barnett, grant specialist for Wallace State. “Employers continue to seek qualified drivers at a pace that is not equal to the number of graduates completing CDL programs.”
Wallace State’s Disability-Accessible CDL Training is the only one of its kind in the Southeast and is sought out by individuals across the country. The college has already trained students from Colorado, Idaho, Georgia and Tennessee.
The grant will allow the college to install a more accessible lift for truck entry and exit, attracting more students to its program. While hand-brakes made the truck accessible, the stationary lift prevented its drivers from entering or exiting the truck outside of the training yard. The Glide ‘n Go SR HD Mobile Lift that will be purchased will allow students to enter and exit the vehicle as needed to perform safety checks, fuel the vehicle, etc.
CDL Instructor Don Stepp said the new lift is similar to the lifts used in the field.
“The lift is pretty much the exact one they’ll have on the road” Stepp said. This one will provide access to the driver’s door, while many of the ones in use on the road connect to the sleeper compartment of a truck, he said.
Stepp said he admires the dedication he’s seen from students who have completed the program so far and is proud to see how they can fully participate and thrive in transportation careers.
“With the right tools and training, these drivers bring the same professionalism, skill and safety to the road as any other operator,” Stepp said.
Wallace State offers CDL courses on a regular basis, with completion in four to five weeks. Courses are offered during the day as well as nights and weekends.
For more information about Wallace State’s CDL program, email cdl@wallacestate.edu or contact the Center for Career and Workforce Development at 256-352-7452.
