澳门足球博彩官方网址
2023年11月14日
澳门足球博彩官方网址 expands truck driving training
Driving simulators, state testing site approval enhance Class A and B
Dr. 理查德•中型股, 加勒特学院校长, takes a "test drive" on one of the new truck-driving simulators at GC's Mountaintop Truck Driving Institute (MTDI) in 奖助金ville. Also pictured is Donna Bittinger, 澳门足球博彩官方网址's coordinator of workforce development. The College purchased the simulators with grant funding from the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund.
澳门足球博彩官方网址's truck driving program has added driving simulators and was recently approved as a state testing site for Class A and B licensure.
The two simulators – obtained through a $236,000 Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund grant – have proven to be valuable additions to the truck driving program, 唐娜·比廷格说, GC's coordinator of workforce development.
"The simulators allow us to teach proper shifting, double-clutching, and situational awareness before putting students on the road,比廷格说. "This technology makes for a safer student."
“这是一个很好的教学工具,理查德·凯尔补充道, one of three truck driving instructors operating out of 澳门足球博彩官方网址's Mountaintop Truck Driving Institute (MTDI) at GC's Northern Outreach Center (NOC).
"It really helped me learn how to drive,Brexton Weyant补充道, a current Class B truck driving student.
The simulators – built by Canada-based Virage Simulation – can simulate a wide variety of driving conditions and challenging road situations. During one test simulation last Friday, Bittinger介绍了雪, 迎面而来的车辆, and a deer crossing the highway into the simulation mix.
Bittinger said there is also a fiscal upside to employing the simulators.
"This is the perfect way for a new student with no truck-driving knowledge to figure it all out without actually burning up a clutch,她说, 添加, "These trucks are not cheap to fix!"
Bittinger said 澳门足球博彩官方网址 annually serves approximately 40 Class A students – those seeking licensure to drive tractor trailers – and another 15 seeking Class B dump truck licensure. The Class A course takes 7½ weeks to complete while the Class B program consists of six full-day class sessions.
The College also offers a CDL refresher course for individuals with Class B licensure and the ability to drive a manual-shift truck who wish to obtain a Class A license.
"The demand for truck drivers is still pretty high,比廷格说, who noted starting pay for drivers is generally between $21 and $25 an hour.
"A lot of local employers are looking for Class B operators, especially this time of year when a lot of companies want people to plow snow,她说. "Some of our bigger employers – like Dot Foods, Schneider, Werner, and W.S. Thomas – come here to recruit Class A truck drivers."
Bittinger said the College is fortunate to have three permanent instructors – Kyer, 戴尔Sgaggero, and Mike Smith – with decades of practical truck-driving experience.
"Our instructors have well over a hundred years of experience in trucking,比廷格说, whose instructor staff also includes part-time, 周末教练弗兰克·斯加杰罗.
Bittinger noted that "nearly all of our students qualify for some type of financial assistance." She said the Western Maryland Consortium and West Virginia Workforce play a key funding role for GC's workforce programs.
澳门足球博彩官方网址's certification as a Class A and Class B testing site is another recent enhancement to the College's truck-driving program. The College employs two experienced testers in Josh Custer and Dennis Rodeheaver.
"Our approval as a testing site means our students are able to train where they will test,比廷格解释道. "It's also made testing options more flexible for our students."
Serving as a testing site has also strengthened the College's relationship with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Bittinger说.
"The MVA has been very supportive of our move into testing,她说. "If I have a question, all I have to do is call them up and I usually have the answer within minutes."
Truck driving isn't the only workforce training program at the NOC employing simulation technology. The College's HVAC and electrical programs both use simulators for instruction.
"The HVAC and electrical simulators can be programmed to malfunction and students must identify the problem,比廷格解释道.
The NOC has been at its present site – 12601 National Pike, which was originally a Garrett County Roads Garage – since 2011. While predominantly known for its workforce training, the NOC also offers piano instruction through Dr. Sean Beachy, and a wide range of continuing education courses.
For more Commercial Truck Driving program information contact Donna Bittinger at (301) 387-3750 or visit: Commercial Driver's License Class A
