Texas Awards Grants to Train 145 Heavy-Duty Truck Drivers
Funds Will Train Truckers in Colleges in Dallas, Laredo
Key Takeaways:
- Texas leads the nation in employment of heavy-duty truck drivers with 212,770 who earn an average of $54,550 yearly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Laredo College is promoting its truck driver training through its Transportation Training Center due to the school’s proximity to the Port of Laredo.
[Stay on top of transportation news: .]
Texas will fund training for 145 heavy-duty truck drivers and nearly 230 automotive mechanics as part of $14 million in state grants awarded to train students for careers in high-demand industries.
“I thank the and our education partners for training the next generation of hardworking Texans to be part of the better job and bigger paycheck opportunities that we provide in our great state,” Gov. Greg Abbott said recently. “As our economy grows, Texas will continue to invest in the future of our workforce.”
Abbott said the career training grants will enable 6,500 Texas students to transition directly from educational programs into good-paying jobs.
Two grants totaling $273,433 were awarded to train students as heavy-duty truck drivers. Dallas College will receive $164,350 to train 65 students, while Laredo College was awarded $109,083 to train 80 students.
Laredo College is promoting its truck driver training through its Transportation Training Center due to the school’s proximity to the Port of Laredo. This busy border area with Mexico provides students with job opportunities for truckers and logistics jobs since some 14,000 commercial trucks pass through the Laredo border each day.
Drive your career forward with our CDL programs!
Our courses provide students with training, simulator experience and hands-on driving instruction to succeed in the transportation industry. For more information, contact us at TTC-CDL@laredo.edu or (956) 794-4996. — Laredo College (@laredopalominos)
Texas regularly provides workforce training grants to public schools to train students to enter trucking careers. Texas leads the nation in employment of heavy-duty truck drivers with 212,770 who earn an average of $54,550 yearly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2023, the latest available figures.
Cox Automotive's Matt Trapp and Alex Fraser discuss how advanced technologies are shaping the future of maintenance.Tune in above or by going to .
The Lone Star State also ranks in two of the top five U.S. metropolitan areas that have the most heavy-duty truck drivers employed. In third place after the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania and Chicago areas is Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington with 47,590 heavy-duty truck drivers. The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area with its 47,490 such drivers is in fifth place after Los Angeles-Long Beach.
The Texas truck driver training grants were allocated from the state’s program. Other JET grants were awarded to educate 227 automotive service technicians and mechanics. The largest grant, $331,387, was given to Austin Community College to train 50 students.
Near McAllen, the in Mercedes will receive $304,864 to train 12 students. The Mineola ISD, 85 miles east of Dallas, was awarded a $274,989 grant to train 165 students.
The JET grants are funded by the Texas Legislature to offset costs to develop career and technical education programs, as well as purchase needed training equipment to teach students in public schools for high-demand jobs.
“Through initiatives like the JET grant program, we are preparing our workforce to pioneer innovations and thrive on the cutting edge of industry,” said Joe Esparza, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission. “These grants strategically target high-growth industries, ensuring workers can find meaningful career opportunities while strengthening Texas’ reputation as the best state for doing business.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing belowor go here for more info:
