WCCD, City of Dothan Partner to Provide Skills for Success CDL Training to City Employees

(l to r) Delvick McKay, City of Dothan; Linda Cunningham, City of Dothan; Joe Johnson, WCCD; Dr. Linda Young, WCCD; Houston Blackwood, ACCS Innovation Center

Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD) and the City of Dothan have partnered to provide Skills for Success Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training for current City employees. The training is taking place at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center and is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for City employees to receive a Class A CDL license required for employment.

“CDL licensed drivers are the lifeline of several of our City of Dothan operations, particularly in the Public Works and Dothan Utilities Departments.  From medium to heavy equipment operators to safety-sensitive positions that require a CDL, the City relies upon the ability of our employees assigned in these areas to provide an essential service to the public,” said Linda Cunningham, City of Dothan EEO & Professional Development Training Officer. “With the City of Dothan’s partnership with Wallace College, this allows our employees and prospective employees to obtain a CDL and build a career with our organization.”

The WCCD CDL training will prepare fifteen City of Dothan employees to take and pass the federal Class A CDL test. WCCD has provided online Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) as well as hands-on instruction. Skills taught include safely maintaining and maneuvering trucks into traffic, into loading or unloading positions, and in and out of parking spaces. In addition, City employees will learn how to apply the necessary protocol to transport various types of goods and materials, whether regionally or nationally. They will be able to demonstrate how to operate important equipment, including truck cab computers, CB radios, and tools for basic maintenance conditions. They will also be able to demonstrate vehicle pre-trip and post-trip inspection, straight line backing, alley dock backing, as well as coupling and uncoupling various trailers.

“We are truly excited to partner with the City of Dothan and the Wiregrass Public Safety Center to provide CDL training for the City of Dothan employees. The training is a great example of how the College partners with local industry to provide rapid workforce training to existing employees at no cost,” said Joe Johnson, WCCD Director of Workforce Development. “Employees have an opportunity to participate in quality training that will lead to an industry-recognized credential and better prepare them to be successful in their current role. I applaud the City of Dothan for investing in their workforce and for providing the training the employees need to be successful in their careers.”

The CDL training program is facilitated by WCCD through the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Innovation Center. The training course is part of the Center’s Skills for Success program with the aim to rapidly deliver workforce training developed in partnership with Alabama’s businesses and industries. The Skills for Success courses allow WCCD to deliver rapid, necessary training with minimal expense or content development.  This reduces the cost of training to the companies and the participants but maintains the rigorous standards set by National and State agencies.

“Skills for Success is the Alabama Community College System’s rapid training program. The training is developed in partnership with Alabama’s businesses and industries, so it is customized for jobs that employers say need to be filled immediately,” said Houston Blackwood, Workforce Director of the ACCS Innovation Center. “Skills for Success quickly trains workers for jobs that are in-demand, like commercial truck drivers. The training is customized so students can find jobs immediately after completing the course.”

For more information about WCCD’s Skills for Success CDL training program, please contact Joe Johnson at jjohnson@wallace.edu or 334-556-2390.