Danville Community College (DCC), in partnership with Ancora Education, is commemorating the one-year anniversary of its Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training program on March 6, marking a year of remarkable achievements and contributions to the local community.
Since its inception in March 2023, the CDL training program at DCC has empowered 71 individuals to embark on transformative journeys toward careers in commercial driving. With a commendable completion rate of 90%, the program is a testament to DCC's commitment to providing quality education and vocational training opportunities.
“When our community speaks, we listen,” said Dr. Jerry Wallace, President of Danville Community College. “When our regional partners began expressing a need for more commercially licensed drivers to support the economic development efforts in the area, DCC responded with a robust program that many students attend at little to no out-of-pocket cost, and that can be completed in as little as four weeks.”
The program offers flexible training schedules tailored to accommodate diverse needs, including intensive 4-week sessions held Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, and extended 8-week sessions conducted on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. This flexibility enables participants to pursue their CDL certification while balancing other commitments.
One of the hallmarks of the DCC CDL training program is its strong industry connections, which have facilitated numerous employment opportunities for its graduates. Companies such as TransAm, First Piedmont, Danville Trucking, Cooke Trucking, Mabe’s Trucking Company, McElroy, TMC, Schneider, WLA, Covenant Transport, Total Transportation, Stevens Transport, and Gypsum have recognized the caliber of DCC-trained drivers and have actively recruited from the program.
Moreover, the program has also welcomed employees from esteemed organizations such as the Virginia Department of Transportation and The City of Danville, underscoring its reputation as a trusted partner in professional development.
Reflecting on her experiences, student LaPrecious England expressed her enthusiasm for the program.
England shared, “In my experience as a student in CDL training at DCC, the instructors are always allowing you to grow at your own pace. If I felt uncertain about anything in the program, I was always given plenty of opportunities to grasp complete understanding before moving forward. The CDL Training Program has been so helpful in providing me the resources I need to pursue a new career.”
England continued, “In the future, I plan to have a career in trucking with my CDL. I want to travel all over the United States and see the world while I deliver loads to customers. I am so excited about this new career change made possible by obtaining my CDL.”
Maddux Bowman, who is currently enrolled in CDL training, added, “I applied for a job with the City of Danville and they offered this training opportunity to me at no cost. I will use this training in my job each day, driving trucks for the city.”
Looking ahead, DCC is gearing up for upcoming training sessions, with new 4-week training commencing monthly and 8-week training scheduled bi-monthly. These opportunities will continue to empower individuals seeking to enter the dynamic field of commercial driving.
As Danville Community College celebrates this significant milestone, it reaffirms its dedication to fostering excellence in education, workforce development, and community enrichment through innovative programs like the CDL training initiative.
For more information about the CDL training program at Danville Community College, please visit Danville.edu.
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