College launches autonomous trucker certificate program

Updated Jun 23, 2019
One of TuSimple’s self-driving trucks, a Navistar International LT, makes its way down the road. (Image Courtesy of TuSimple)One of TuSimple’s self-driving trucks, a Navistar International LT, makes its way down the road. (Image Courtesy of TuSimple)

Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona is launching an autonomous driving certificate program for truck drivers in partnership with TuSimple, a self-driving truck company.

The program will “equip truck drivers with the knowledge and skills to expand their roles in this new and rapidly expanding industry” and will prepare them for “jobs such as training the autonomous system as test drivers, operating the vehicle in situations where autonomous driving is not suitable and to remotely monitor the system from the command center,” according to a news release from the college.

Drivers must already have their Class A CDL prior to participating in the certificate program. The program’s curriculum consists of five classes:

  • Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
  • Industrial Safety
  • Computer Hardware Components
  • Electrical Systems I
  • Transportation and Traffic Management

Registration for the program opens in August and classes start in September. TuSimple will prioritize hiring graduates of the certificate program for jobs at its testing and development center in Tucson, according to the college.

“It’s clear that the future of truck transportation will offer new employment opportunities for today’s drivers but it will require a set of new skills,” said Lee Lambert, chancellor of Pima Community College. “Working with TuSimple to develop this Autonomous Vehicle Driver and Operations Specialist certificate program ensures our students will build competencies in multiple areas.”