JJC’s Commercial Driver’s License Program Receives Grant to Assist Veterans

Joliet Junior College has received a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant to support its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program. JJC is one of 16 educational institutions to receive the grant nationwide and the only site in Illinois.

With the nearly $170,000 grant, JJC is implementing the Driving America: One Veteran at a Time CDL Training program for military veterans in the community. It will assist current and former members of the United States Armed Forces, including National Guard members and reservists, and their spouses to receive training so they can transition into the commercial motor vehicle operation industry.

“One of the greatest things about this program is that veterans can receive this training at no cost and the college provides assistance with job placement,” said Amy Murphy, dean of applied arts, workforce education and training.

The CDL training program at JJC covers the cost of tuition, a drug-screening/physical exam and a CDL learner’s permit. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion as well as prepare themselves to take the State of Illinois Class A road test.

For the fifth year, JJC has been selected as a recipient of the CMVOST grant to support CDL training for military veterans. JJC is a military friendly school that serves an area of more than 35,000 veterans.

“This grant opportunity is one way to give back to the men and women who served to protect us,” said Murphy.

In addition, the transportation industry is experiencing continuous growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers “is projected to grow five percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.”

This year alone, FMCSA issued $2 million in grant funds to support driver training and safety.

The four-week CDL training program meets Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and combines classroom instruction along with hands-on driving to prepare students for real-world scenarios. The training is held at JJC’s Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center located at 17840 Laraway Road in Joliet.

Full-time day classes begin every three weeks. Participants must meet program eligibility requirements to be accepted into the program.

For more information or to apply call 815-280-6902 or email cdlinfo@jjc.edu.

For media inquiries, contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu