Isothermal’s new truck driving program creates fast lane to success in Partnership with ARC, The Charles A. Cannon Trust No. One, and The Cannon Foundation
By: Mike Gavin
Published: September 10, 2024
SPINDALE (Sept. 9, 2024) – A new fast lane to an exciting career is opening soon at Isothermal Community College.
Thanks to ICC’s partnership with Appalachian Regional Commission who invested $500,000, The Charles A. Cannon Trust No. One who gave $326,000, and The Cannon Foundation who awarded $250,000, a new standalone professional truck driving program will start soon.
During the past decade, Isothermal has offered professional truck driver training in a partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Unfortunately, the scheduling on those courses was limited to the availability of Caldwell’s trucks and instructors. Sometimes that meant that courses may not have happened as frequently nor on the days and times needed.
“I’m grateful for the confidence our funding partners have shown in helping us expand the work we’ve been doing to support careers in the logistics and distribution industries,” said Isothermal’s president, Dr. Margaret Annunziata. “This funding allows us to build on our previous partnership with Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute to create more flexible on-ramps to family-supporting wages.”
The program will provide students with high quality CDL truck driving instruction, access to modern training equipment, and necessary support staff to ensure that students are well-prepared for high-paying and high-demand truck driving careers in western North Carolina and the Appalachian region.
“We are deeply grateful for the generous support from the Cannon Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission to help us establish a stand-alone truck driver training program at Isothermal Community College,” said Dr. Greg Thomas, vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. “Our commitment to designing this program with affordability at its core, and offering unique night and weekend options in addition to traditional day courses, ensures that we will have the greatest impact on our community. By providing expedited access to careers with family-sustaining wages, this program will not only improve the individual lives of future students, but also strengthen the economic fabric of our entire region.”
The truck driving industry in the Asheville region, which includes Rutherford and Polk counties, has been experiencing consistent growth since 2021 and is expected to continue its upward trajectory until 2030. Employers are increasingly seeking people with the necessary skills needed for this occupation such as truck driving, palletizing, warehousing, and shipping and receiving.
The program will take place on the Rutherford Campus and will provide a range of class options, including full-time and part-time schedules and night and weekend classes, to accommodate the unique circumstances of students. The program also aims to provide a more financially affordable solution to overcome the economic challenges in the rural area and support equitable access.
For more information on the program, contact Dee Spurlin at dspurlin@isothermal.edu or 828-395-1416.