A grant will help Rend Lake College expand its existing CDL program. (Image Courtesy of Rend Lake College)Rend Lake College is set to begin offering truck driver training at its Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville, Illinois campus thanks to a $193,880 grant from the Delta Regional Authority.
The college already offers a CDL training program and the new program at the Pinckneyville location will enable it to train an additional 40 students each year. The college’s Board of Trustees approved an additional $87,000 to go toward the project in October, bringing the total investment to $280,880.
DRA funds will support the purchase of a truck, trailer, mobile alignment lab, outdoor shelter, and the paving of an existing gravel lot. The college will cover the cost of instruction, classroom space, instructor training, marketing, training supplies and coordination of the project. The mobile lab will provide hands-on training for diesel and heavy equipment mechanics.
“This is an exciting opportunity to assist with the shortage of truck drivers by expanding training to our Pinckneyville campus,” said Lori Ragland, vice president of instruction and student affairs at the college.
Pinckneyville is located about 75 miles southeast of St. Louis. The expanded CDL training program is expected to take off in the spring.
