Trucker 101
Trucker 101
ByJerry W. Kram
Those of us who are old enough to remember the 70s can recall a TV show called Movin’ On, which starred Claude Akins as a crusty old truck driver teaching a young punk the ropes about handling a big rig.
Those days are long gone, and driving 40,000 pounds of steel and rubber on overcrowded highways is a little too important to leave driver’s training to chance. Additionally, areas like the Bakken have a huge need for more drivers and anyone with a CDL – Commercial Drivers License – can just about write their own ticket. Those are two reasons Fort Berthold Community College is starting a CDL class that will combine time in a truck simulator with over the road driving experience to give its students the best chance of being safe, successful drivers.
The CDL classes are part of a TREND grant that was awarded to FBCC and four other area tribal and technical colleges to provide oilfield career training. Along with the CDL classes, said Edna Sailor, TREND Project Coordinator, FBCC offers welding, construction technology, Refinery Operations and Pipeline Field Operations classes.
“We will be offering several classes over the school year,” Sailor said. “In the second phase of the grant, we hope to add a two year degree in safety as well.”
