February 28, 2024

Continuing Education Receives CDL Trucks and Trailer to Expand Program

Ahoskie, N.C. (February 19, 2024)

Roanoke-Chowan Community College will expand its CDL (Commercial Driver License) program through the acquisition of two trucks (one manual and automatic) and one trailer secured through funding provided by Hertford County Government.
“The Hertford County Commissioners were delighted to provide financial support to Roanoke-Chowan Community College for the acquisition of a truck dedicated to their new CDL class,” stated Mr. Andre' M. Lassiter, Sr., Chairman of the Hertford County Commissioners. “This initiative aims to benefit the residents of Hertford County by offering them the chance to enroll in the course, empowering them to either establish their own business or pursue employment opportunities with companies.”
“Seizing this moment, we strive to educate our citizens as part of our ongoing commitment to attract business and industry to our region. Recognizing the importance of taking innovative steps, we are dedicated to creating unprecedented opportunities that allow our residents to unleash their talents. By bridging the gap, we continue our concerted efforts to ensure our citizens receive the necessary skilled training for a high-quality life for themselves and their families,” continued Mr. Lassiter.
The transportation services sector is a growing industry, especially in northeast North Carolina. Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm, projects this region will see an increase in jobs for truck and tractor-trailer drivers through 2029.

“As the demand for transportation services continues to grow, we seek to ensure our students are prepared to enter the workforce with confidence,” stated Dr. Murray J Williams, Roanoke-Chowan Community College President. “The additional vehicles in our fleet will provide our students the opportunity to practice their skills with guidance.”

“We are grateful to the Hertford County Commissioners for their continued support as we strive to improve the lives of our students and local community,” Dr. Williams added.

The short-term training CDL program is designed to provide students with necessary skills and hands-on training needed to be successful in the industry. According to Lightcast, there are 625 jobs in this field regionally, which is much higher than the national average of 408 for areas of this size. This creates more opportunities for workers to find employment in this area. The median wage for drivers in this area is $19.86/hr or $41,300 annually.

The Spring CDL class is scheduled to start March 25th. Interested students should contact the Continuing Education Registrar’s Office at 252-862-1307 or utilize the following link, https://www.roanokechowan.edu/continuing-education, for more information on the program.