Major corporations continue to compete for experienced CDL holders by offering higher salaries and benefits packages. Largely because the country struggles with a truck driver shortage that hovers around 80,000 and growing. Chicken food processing giant Perdue Farms is working diligently to increase the number of truckers by expanding opportunities in the Maryland area.
Perdue Farms and Wor-Wic Community College are collaborating to ensure Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore has enough truckers to handle rising demand. Perdue’s charitable donation arm — the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation — recently pledged $120,000 to support CDL studies at the Salisbury-based community college. The funds would go toward a truck driving simulation lab for students taking commercial driver’s license courses as its new technology center comes online in 2023.
“Wor-Wic has a long history of providing programming when needs in our local workforce arise. Their current campaign is doing this in so many ways,” Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, reportedly said. “We are so very proud to invest in the expansion of their truck driver training program – especially the new CDL simulators — and other equipment for their new applied technologies building. The efforts of Wor-Wic today will certainly provide for a strong tomorrow for the Shore and beyond.”
The CDL simulation lab allows students to experience what it’s like to handle a Class 8 commercial motor vehicle through adverse weather conditions as well as sunny days. Investing in a CDL program helps increase the number of well-trained CDL professionals when they are sorely needed.
“At Perdue, we employ just under 400 commercial truck drivers to deliver our products to our customers and consumers” Rich Hernandez, vice president of transportation and warehousing for Perdue Farms,” reportedly said. “We’re always looking for experienced drivers to join our fleet. Programs like this at Wor-Wic provide an excellent training ground for new drivers and are beneficial for our company as well.”
The CDL training lab improves on the Wor-Wic’s successful integration of its current simulator. Housed in a mobile unit until the new tech center is completed, it provides visuals of what it’s like to operate an 18-wheeler under wide-reaching conditions. The new lab is expected to employ next-generation technology to enhance student experiences.
“Perdue’s pledge will make a difference to our students,” of Wor-Wic president Dr. Ray Hoy reportedly said. “They have enhanced our ability to ensure that we are teaching on the latest state-of-the-art equipment and that we have the financial resources needed to maintain our CDL program, which in turn supports our local businesses in their transport needs.”
Wor-Wic offers CDL training programs that lead to both class A and class B licenses for commercial driving, and currently instructs 70 to 105 commercial drivers every year.
Sources
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