August 8, 2016
Story and photo by Brandon Steinert
Industry demand has driven continued expansion of the Barton Community College Commercial Driver’s License Program. Barton is now an official test site and a second truck has been acquired from Doonan’s Peterbilt with bodywork and paint from Jeremy’s Paint and Body Shop in Sterling.
The truck was made possible through the Perkins Reserve grant, which is intended to “more fully develop the academic and career technical skills of students enrolled in career and technical education programs,” according to the grant handbook.
Executive Director of Workforce Training and Economic Development Mary Foley said the truck has allowed the college to offer an additional class on Thursday evenings. Barton has also hired an additional instructor and two driving assistants to ensure students are able to secure ample driving time.
While having two trucks alleviates some of the demand, the waitlist of students and potential beneficiaries is deep enough to support a third truck, which Barton administrators are working on securing.
Foley said along with the enhanced efficiency that comes with multiple vehicles and the college serving as an official test site, CDL testing should be accessible to the general public by January of 2017 with plans to implement a full certificate program beyond the basic license. The full certificate program is expected to take at least two years to develop and launch.
For questions about Barton’s CDL offerings, contact Foley at foleym@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9278.