Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) was recently awarded $134,215.00 in grant funds by the USDA. Funds from this grant were used to purchase a new Freightliner CA126SLP semi-truck with an automatic transmission for the Commercial Truck Driving (CTD) program at the CPTC Waycross Campus.
A new semi-truck with an automatic transmission will fill several needs for the program. Students who struggle with developing proficiency driving a truck with a manual transmission will now have the option to learn in an automatic transmission truck. Students who might not otherwise be successful in the program will now be able to successfully complete the program and find a job in field, with licensing restricted for automatic transmission truck operation only.
“We are excited about the potential for growth in our Commercial Truck Driving program with the inclusion of this new automatic transmission truck. The support of the USDA continues to allow us to provide more advanced and extensive training for our students.”, states Vince Jackson, Vice-President for Institutional Effectiveness and USDA Grant Administrator.
The Commercial Truck Driving program at Coastal Pines provides basic training in the principles and skills of commercial truck operation and prepares students for the Georgia CDL Skills Exam and for CTD licensure testing by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. The CTD program is offered on the Waycross, Baxley, and Golden Isles campuses. For more information, please visit www.coastalpines.edu.
Pictured is Mark Jackson and Brandon Oliver (CPTC CTD instructors) after the delivery of the new truck on January 11, 2024.