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NIACC Professional Driver Prep Program Graduating Class…Front row, left to right: Shane Maben, Lawrence Bathke, Joseph Faught; Back row, left to right: Randy Mork, John Torres, Chris Upenieks, Phil Bishop, Casey Grady

Students in the North Iowa Area Community College Professional Driver Preparation program graduated on April 25.  NIACC’s Professional Drive Preparation program provides an intense three-week program, consisting of 40 classroom hours and 120 hours behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer commercial vehicle. 

“These eight graduates have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required by the Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles, Driver’s Licensing Division, and are eligible to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License,” Randy Grey, lead instructor for the NIACC Professional Driver Preparation program, said.

During the classroom section of the program student drivers used the Master Driver program, which provided knowledge over the following areas:  general commercial motor vehicle knowledge and safety; air brakes and skid prevention; coupling and uncoupling of trailers; emergency maneuvers; right turns, left turns and intersections; backing maneuvers; the hazard perception challenge; and hours of service – log books.  In addition to lectures, classroom training incorporated the use of a computer-driving simulator to provide students with experience for driving conditions and situations not available in North Iowa. 

Students drove late model Freightliner and Volvo, 10 speed manual transmission, sleeper cab tractors which pulled 53 ft. van trailers during the 120 hours of practice range and road driving section of the program.  “These van trailers were pulled with both empty and loaded trailers,” Grey said.

A high percentage of the graduates have been pre-hired by major transportation companies and are able to begin employment quickly, some within days after graduating from the program.

"The best thing this program has to offer is that there are real jobs waiting once a person puts in the effort and has completed it,” Randy Mork, a graduate from Forest City, said.  Mork began his employment orientation with TMC in Des Moines on Monday, April 28. 

Chris Upenieks, a graduate from Kensett, agreed with Mork.  "This is the first thing I’ve ever done where people really want you to succeed and there is a great job in line at the end," Upenieks, who also started with TMC on Monday, said.

Grey was impressed with his students’ efforts for the class. “The transformation in each individual student was tremendous over the three weeks.  The students grew both in ability and confidence.  Many of these students had been through a rough period, like lay-offs or another form of unemployment.  This experience has reinforced the fact that they are able to learn a new trade that can produce a very good income upon completion.  Was it easy, no they had to work at it, but the rewards make it worth the effort,” he said.

“It has been ten years since we’ve offered a professional truck driver preparation program and we are pleased with the participation for the program this spring,” John Sjolinder, NIACC trade and industry coordinator, said.

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