March 9, 2022 3:40 a.m.

Umpqua Community College has received $300,000 in grant funding from Douglas County and the State of Oregon to support truck driver training scholarships.

Communications and Marketing Director Suzi Pritchard said the scholarships result from federal funds received by the state under the American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for special districts and organizations.

Pritchard said UCC will provide training scholarships for up to 150 entry-level professional truck drivers, preparing them to earn a Commercial Driver’s License and enter the high-wage, high-demand field. Pritchard said the truck driving program at UCC provides 160 hours of hands-on instruction with options to train over 4 weeks or on weekends.

The school’s release said 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 percent, according to UCC.

Robin VanWinkle, Dean of UCC Community Education and Partnerships said, “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 has made the crisis much more acute”. VanWinkle said UCC is working closely with Umpqua Valley Transportation Sector Partnership and workforce agencies to help meet the demand for new drivers.

According to the American Trucking Association Driver Shortage Analysis Report, the industry will need more than 1.1 million new drivers by 2026.