RAPID CITY, SD – The need for truck drivers is so great that some trucking companies are paying students a living allowance, tuition and a guaranteed position while they obtain to their commercial drivers license.
In a South Dakota Department of Labor May 2021 Top 30 Hot Careers report, the top “Hot Career” listed is “Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers”. The list is based on factors including “above-average projected openings” and “an average/mean wage greater than the median wage across all occupations in 2019”.
The DOL projects annual openings for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, from 2018-2028, to be 1, 100. The average annual wage in 2020 was $46,232.
Western Dakota Technical College’s Corporate Education Center offers short-term classes, custom training, events, seminars, career programs, and more to help companies train employees. It recently announced graduates from its six-week Truck Driving Program.
The Truck Driving Program graduates, and their hometowns, are: Class A (six-week course)
Caleb Billings – Rapid City, Tanner Ellefson – Rapid City. Nathan Fields – Rapid City, Damien Grause – Summerset, Desmond Rouse – Rapid City, Justin Schofield – Wall, Warren VanSkike – Rapid City, Brandon Walden – Box Elder
The next Professional Truck Driving Program class starting in April is full. Those interested in the program can apply now for courses set to begin in June. Course info is available at wdt.edu/TruckDriving.
As enrollment is limited, and the program fills quickly, those interested are encouraged to call the Corporate Education Center at (605) 718-2410, or email [email protected].
