LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 25, 2018) — The City of Lexington is offering a free Commercial Driver’s License (CDL-B) training program. The Public Works Skills Academy internship program will offer paid training during an 8-week period through a partnership with the Kentucky Career Center-Bluegrass. There is a limit of six positions.
A 30-minute orientation session to learn more about the program will be held at noon and again at 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9, at Charles Young Center, 540 East Third Street.
The internship program will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 4, and will last for eight weeks. Training will take place from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional employment opportunities with the city may be available after completion of the eight-week program. Another six internships will be offered in the spring of 2019.
Kentucky Career Center-Bluegrass staff will be present during the orientation on Aug. 9 to help individuals apply for the program, and to determine eligibility for the paid internships. Staff from Lexington’s Division of Street and Roads will be available for in-person interviews once program eligibility is determined.
Truck driving today involves a lot more technology than it used to. (https://www.lanereport.com/102905/2018/07/logistics-transportation-tech-telemetrics-transform-transport/)
Rob Allen, deputy director of Streets and Roads, said, “We hope to help grow our own workforce with this internship program. We want to offer an opportunity for someone to get a CDL license, while also getting trained on driving equipment in our fleet. We want people who need a second chance in a career.”
Drivers are in high demand as many long-time operators are now retiring and fewer young adults have entered a field that regularly pays $60,000 to $70,000. (https://www.lanereport.com/86920/2018/02/one-on-one-a-good-time-to-be-in-logistics-for-the-fast-and-accurate/)
Elodie Dickinson, Workforce Development manager, said, “Our partnership with the Kentucky Career Center-Bluegrass will help offer citizens in Lexington an opportunity to get a CDL license that is free of cost, and it is a license that is recognized by several local employers, including our own city government.”
Program requirements follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for Commercial Driver’s License. These requirements include:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold a valid Kentucky Driver’s License
- Pass a driving record check
- Have a GED, high school diploma, or specialized vocational training
- Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug screening
- Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical screening
- Pass a background check
Applications for the program are available on the city’s website through Aug. 7, 2018: www.lexingtonky.gov/economicdevelopment. Program eligibility requirements and any additional questions can be submitted through the same website. Applications will also be available at the orientation.
Due to the limited number of training positions, Kentucky Career Center-Bluegrass staff will also be registering interested individuals at the state’s online system for other career and training options.
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