A partnership between Ridgewater College, ACGC High School, Willmar High School, DREAM Technical Academy, Duininck Companies, Truck Transport, West Central Sanitation, West Central Steel, Jennie-O, Trans Systems, and Dooley’s Petroleum received $22,150 in LYFT Pathways funding to develop a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program for high school students.

The CDL Training Program will expose students to the opportunity of becoming commercial vehicle operators. This will help meet the needs of industry at the local level by providing a learning opportunity that includes industry tours, classroom training, simulation and commercial vehicle driving experience with industry partners. Students will take the CDL written exam. Once the students pass the written exam, they will receive behind-the-wheel training with industry partners as mentors/ trainers.

A portion of the funds will be used to purchase a CDL Driving Simulator that students will use throughout the course. The project will kick off with a Transportation Business Showcase that will be open to the general student body and public to raise awareness of the opportunities in the trucking industry. Behind-the-wheel training will be delivered to students by company mentors and students will also have job shadowing opportunities to learn more about various aspects of the industry. Students will earn one high school and two college credits.

In the Spring of 2019, eight students took this course.

During 2020-21, five students took this course.

During 2021-22, 16 students took this course. 

For more information contact Ridgewater College.