Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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44 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2016 bolster workforce train- ing, education and career pathways for retail workers nationwide – will sup- port training women and underserved populations who enroll in the driving academy. The money comes to Hinds via the Jackson, Miss.-based Foundation for the Mid-South. "Walmart supported us in this plan to expand opportunities to all folks, but gave us a challenge to do it for women," said Ivye Allen, foundation president. Windy City school Last August, Prairie State College of Chicago Heights announced a partner- ship with KLLM Driving Academy to collaborate on CDL training. The agreement combines the resources of PSC and KLLM to address the needs of individual students, as well as the service and industry sectors. It also is intended to ensure that Illinois has an adequate supply of skilled truck drivers with a CDL to preserve the region's competi- tiveness and economic opportunity in the industry. "KLLM is very excited about the partnership we have created with Prairie State College," says Jim Richards, KLLM president and chief executive offi cer. "This partnership will be very benefi cial in the training of individuals seeking to begin a career of being a profes- sional truck driver. Our curriculum will provide individuals with the skill set to be successful, and in addition, upon completion at the academy, we will also offer them employment." Through support from KLLM, students in the program will receive scholarship opportunities to incur no out-of-pocket tuition costs, stipends during the training and a six-week paid internship if they agree to one year of employment with KLLM at the conclu- sion of the training. The program is designed for the 21-and-older student with no commer- cial driving experience and includes four weeks of school, a two-day company orientation and internship. Students earn their CDL within four weeks of training totaling 160 hours. Refresher training also is available for individu- als who wish to renew their CDL and obtain employment with KLLM. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the people in the PSC community and beyond who are interested in obtaining their CDL," says Dr. Terri L. Winfree, PSC president. "Through this program, students will be supplied with a market- able skill, a valuable college and industry credential and job placement. We are pleased to be part of such a unique partnership with KLLM." Texas training In September, the company celebrated the grand opening of a new training location in Lancaster, Texas. Rich- ards cut the ribbon on the two-story 44,000-square-foot school in a cer- emony with more than 300 guests in attendance. The state-of-the-art facility offers an 18-day accelerated driver training program for Texas residents and features classroom and behind-the-wheel train- ing, road and range instruction and driver safety education. "This school represents an innovative partnership between KLLM and Cedar Valley College that will help fi ll key jobs in the nationwide trucking industry," Richards says. "It leverages KLLM's reputation as a leader in transport services with Cedar Valley's strong commitment to providing quality education that leads to jobs and career pathways." The training facility fea- tures modern classrooms, an onsite physical labora- tory, simulators, electronic log and refrigeration labs, a 4-acre backing range, a full-service cafeteria and lodging facilities for 43 students in private hotel-like rooms. The residence hall section has refrigerators, microwave ovens, cable TV, Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, computer labs and a study hall. The school will help both company drivers and independent contractors earn their CDL and learn about profes- sional driving techniques, DOT regula- tions, accident prevention, cargo claim management, temperature-control chain compliance and the ins and out of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance Safety Ac- countability program. Upon graduation and earning a CDL, students have the opportunity to be placed as a professional driver. The fully accredited driving academy holds a Career School Certifi cate from the Texas Workforce Commission and is open to any Texas resident. "Our Lancaster campus is specially designed to meet the needs of new driv- ing students and help them as they start their new careers," Blankenship says. CC J I N N O VATO R S pro les carriers and eets that have found innovative ways to overcome trucking's challenges. If you know a carrier that has displayed innovation, contact Je Crissey at jcrissey@ccjmagazine.com or 800-633-5953. Jim Richards, KLLM president and CEO, says the new Texas school represents an innovative partnership between his company and Cedar Valley College. The KLLM Driving Academy in Lancaster, Texas, is a new two-story 44,000-square-foot school with modern classrooms and a residence hall.