UCC will provide training scholarships for up to 150 entry-level professional truck drivers, preparing them to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and enter this high-wage, high-demand field. The truck driving program at Umpqua Community College provides 160 hours of hands-on instruction with options to train over four weeks or ten weekends.

Students in the program network with local trucking companies and often receive job offers upon completion. The UCC Truck Driving program is an approved training provider for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and has an average job placement rate of 85%.

We are excited to enable more students to train and fill the dire need for truck drivers. While the truck driver shortage is not new, supply chain disruptions during the pandemic and surges in demand have made the crisis much more acute, said Robin VanWinkle, Dean, UCC Community Education & Partnerships, UCC is working closely with Umpqua Valley Transportation Sector Partnership and workforce agencies to help meet the demand for new drivers.

It’s estimated that the industry will need more than 1.1 million new drivers by 2026, according to the American Trucking Association (ATA) Driver Shortage Analysis Report (2019). In Oregon, nearly 80% of freight moves by truck, and according to the Southwest Oregon Regional Economist, 96% of all Heavy Tractor-Trailer jobs in Douglas County were difficult to fill.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.

Contact

Robin Van Winkle
Dean, UCC Community Education & Partnerships
Phone: 541-440-4651