New Commercial Drivers License Program To Address Severe Driver Demand
A commercial driver’s license, or CDL, can open the door to a well-paying, high-demand career.
“There are currently 60,000 openings in the state of Florida for commercial driver’s license drivers,” said Lorri Benjamin, director of Brevard Public Schools’ Adult and Community Education program.
In August, Florida Sen. Tom Wright presented Benjamin and her team with a $3.8 million check to launch a commercial driver’s license facility at the Clearlake Education Center in Cocoa.
Groundbreaking for the official performance track necessary for the facility is slated for September, with anticipated opening in June of 2024. Benjamin forecasts robust enrollment from opening day forward.
“Currently, there is no CDL training in Brevard,” she said. “We anticipate being full as soon as we open.”
Opportunities Abound
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible for Class A, B or C CDL licenses, which includes the full range of commercial vehicles, from limos to tractor trailers and heavy machinery.
- A Class A commercial driver’s license is required for towed vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds, such as tractor trailer 18-wheelers.
- Class B licenses allow drivers to operate single vehicles 26,001 pounds or heavier, such as dump trucks.
- Drivers with a Class C license can operate vehicles that transport 15 passengers or more or that carry hazardous materials in amounts that require a placard.
The field abounds with opportunity. The average salary of a Florida truck driver with less than a year of experience is about $1,600 per week, according to national employment website Indeed.com.
“It’s considered a high-wage job,” Benjamin said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for both men and women."
Commercial driving jobs are plentiful, too. According to the American Trucking Association, a shortage of truck drivers has plagued the trucking industry, in large part because of the popularity of online shopping and expedited delivery services. ATA estimates a shortage of 160,000 drivers by 2028.
CareerSource Brevard has partnered with Brevard Adult Education to promote the CDL program. Although students can be as young as 18 to enroll, a wide range of ages — from veterans transitioning to civilian life to workers interested in new careers — will find the program appealing.
With the addition of the CDL program, Brevard Adult Education will offer a full continuum of manufacturing job training.
Brevard Adult Education’s three centers, located in Melbourne, Cocoa and Titusville, offer the later-in-life learner a variety of career training programs that, in addition to training in the manufacturing industry, prepare students for careers in the automotive, cybersecurity and construction fields. Students can also earn required credits for the GED exam, which is offered at an onsite testing center. Classes in English for speakers of other languages and lifelong learning courses are part of the curriculum.
Brevard Public Schools’ new CDL program is a win-win situation for both workers and businesses, providing local industry with the manpower they need.
“This additional training opportunity will help meet the demands for CDL,” said learning specialist Tonya Holder.
Learn More
Brevardschools.org/ace321-633-3660, Ext. 31403
Main office: 1225 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL
From the Archives
Feb. 22, 2021: Business Profile: Brevard Public Schools’ Adult Education
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