TWC grant enhances HCC truck driver training
Apr 19, 2024
From left to right: Dr. Michael Edwards, president of HCC Northeast, Charlene Ward Johnson, HCC District II Trustee, Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher, HCC Chancellor, TWC Commissioner Joe Esparza, Dr. David Vogel, dean of HCC Automotive Technology Center of Excellence, and Martin Garsee, HCC transportation director.
The Houston Community College (HCC) commercial truck driving program received a Regional Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in the amount of $332,000.
The grant has afforded HCC to add to its fleet two tractor trailers with newer technologies like adaptive cruise control, auto braking, lane departure sensors and disc brakes. Students will also benefit from the addition of a fourth full-motion simulator which allows students to get familiar with components and the concepts of truck maneuvers such as shifting, backing, and turning before they get into the vehicle.
“The new simulator increases our capacity to train 25 percent more students than we can accommodate, and these improvements will help assure that HCC graduates are among the best in the industry,” said Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D.
The Texas Workforce Commission JET program provides grants to eligible entities to purchase and install equipment necessary for the development of career and technical education (CTE) courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the demand for commercial truck drivers remains high and is predicted to increase by four percent through 2032. The JET grant will assist HCC in meeting the demand spurred by a transitioning and retiring workforce.
“The new trucks introduce students to high technology found in industry and the simulator allows students to train in a safe environment with less stress and helps HCC to prepare students for road conditions found in other regions outside of Texas that include heavy snow or mountainous areas,” said Martin Garsee, HCC transportation director.
TWC Commissioner Joe Esparza presented the JET grant award to HCC and six schools during a presentation hosted at the Northeast College.
“Our job is to support the workforce system that continues to provide access to pipelines of our emerging workforce that are coming out of high school and coming out of these community colleges and taking advantage of these great opportunities,” said Commissioner Joe Esparza.
HCC offers six and 12-week classes during the day, evenings and weekends. For more information on CDL training, visit hccs.edu/truck.