(CENTREVILLE) - Glen Oaks Community College is launching a new short-term Commercial Driver's License A training program.
It's being done in partnership with Regan Trucking School and with the support of Automotive AC Design & Consulting LLC. This marks a significant step forward in addressing the growing demand for commercial drivers in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana.
Following a series of approvals by the Sturgis Planning Commission and the City Commission, Glen Oaks has secured the necessary land use authorizations to offer CDL-A training at a designated outdoor training site in Sturgis. The program will be held on property owned by UKT, with training maneuvers taking place in the back parking lot at 1103 North Centreville Road. Classroom instructions will be at the Glen Oaks campus in Centreville.
The short-term training model will provide 160 hours of instruction over the course of three weeks. Students will receive hands-on training in vehicle inspection, backing maneuvers, road driving and safety procedures from certified instructors, preparing them to meet Federal and State licensing requirements.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers remains strong, with an average of 241,000 job openings projected annually through 2032. In Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana, demand for CDL-A licensed drivers continues to rise, fueled by growth in logistics, construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.