YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A new program at Youngstown State University aims to fill a need in the regional workforce while providing students with the skills to enter a lucrative industry.
The YSU Truck Driving School started last fall at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio, and 25 people have completed the program so far.
“Everyone’s working,” says Brian Beckett, the school’s program director.
And he reports a 100% pass rate for those graduates.
“We have not had one student so far – knock on wood – that has failed or dropped out,” Beckett adds. “And then, outside of two of them, we’ve actually had a 100% first time pass rate.”
The former Eastern Gateway Community College previously operated a truck driving school at the airport but shut it down when that college ceased operations.
Beckett said YSU President Bill Johnson wanted to open a school under the university’s umbrella to again provide that opportunity in the Mahoning Valley.
CLASSES
The school provides classes and training for both Class A and Class B Commercial Driver’s License certifications. The difference between the two classifications is based on the gross weight of the vehicle the respective certification entitles its recipient to drive.
“So, anything over 26,001 pounds is considered a commercial vehicle,” Beckett explains. “The difference between Class A and Class B is the combination, so if you have a tractor trailer, anytime you have something behind it, it’s considered a Class A. That’s over 26,001 as a combined weight, or like your dump trucks and things like that that doesn’t have a trailer hook to it, would be a class B.”
Class A is more difficult to earn because the trucks are larger and because of the added challenge of backing or maneuvering the larger vehicles. The Class A certification course runs for four weeks and Class B for two, eight hours per day, five days per week.
“One week of classroom, and then the other three remaining is what we call BTW, which is behind the wheel,” Beckett explains. “That’s where they’ll learn all of their backing techniques and maneuvers.”
Instructors also teach the steps a driver follows before each trip and help students prepare for the state test required to secure a CDL. The class offers real world experiences too. Instructors review securing a load, defensive driving, under the hood checks and tire inspections among the 30 chapters of material in the course.
“They learn all that somewhat in class, and then we do all that hands on every day,” the program director explains. “A student does a pre-trip in the morning. We pre-trip all the equipment to make sure that they’re safe for operating for that day, but then we’re also teaching them and preparing them for the test as well.”
NEED FOR DRIVERS
Since it opened, the school has been receiving calls daily from trucking companies who want to hire drivers. Representatives from Valley townships have been calling too, seeking to get employees certified as Class B CDL drivers.
And Valley businesses including Lyden Oil and PI&I have donated trucks and other equipment to the school for students to learn driving techniques.
The need for truck drivers is significant, according to the American Trucking Association which pegs the shortage at about 80,000 drivers. That organization cites an aging workforce, barriers to entry for younger drivers, underrepresentation of women and fewer people pursuing long-haul trucking careers as contributors.
Because of the required ratio of the number of instructors and students, class sizes at the YSU school are small. A group of three students started the classes May 18 and each aspiring driver has a different reason for pursuing the career.
Tony Fuda of Niles wants to advance in his career. Ken Mazurkiesicz of Austintown seeks a change of pace and Terrill Hall of Youngstown hopes to provide a good life for his children.
Fuda works at the Meander Reservoir and earning a CDL would enable him to advance another step in his job classification and salary.
Mazurkiesicz worked in auto sales for 35 years and wants to do something different.
“You can always get a job,” he says of trucking’s appeal and refers to his instructor’s philosophy. “Like he said earlier, it’s like a credit card in your back pocket.”
Besides the good living, Hall is attracted to the work and travel involved with truck driving.
Jonathan Young, the instructor for the course, says the students are eager to learn and he points out the career brings a great return on investment.
“You have to understand, too, for the amount of time you put into this, the turnaround and bump in salary for the time commitment is a big deal,” Young says.
Earning a four-year degree isn’t for everyone, he adds.
Beckett, the school’s program director, earned his CDL about 20 years ago, working in the industry before becoming a truck driving educator about 11 years ago, first at Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, Ohio, and then at the former EGCC before coming to YSU.
THE PAY
He says opportunities abound.
“I’ve seen students straight out of school making anywhere from $45,000 to $65,000 a year, starting out,” Beckett says. “It just depends on really what you want to do.”
Pay is typically higher for over the road drivers who drive cross country and are away from home for extended periods, he adds.
“But an owner operator, say you want to get your own truck and have your own truck out there, they can make over $100,000,” Beckett continues.
The type of haul also affects pay, he says, as some require more work from the driver. “So it just depends on what type of job you’re looking for, but there’s so many out there.”
Beckett says there are discussions about starting a truck driving school at YSU Steubenville, which will open this fall. University officials have said they want students at the Steubenville campus to eventually have access to the same programs that a main campus student has.
Students so far have ranged from 18 to 70 years old and include men and women.
“It really doesn’t matter who you are,” Beckett says. “If you have a drive and an interest in it, that’s what we’re here for.”
The career appeals to people who are hands-on, enjoy travel and like being outside, he says.
“And once you get into it, you get a feel for it,” the director explains. “I know when I first started out, I did some over the road. I loved it. I come from a line of truck drivers in my family, so I was around it a little bit, and I love traveling…so you get to see things, experience things – different things.”
Pictured at top: Brian Beckett is the program manager at Youngstown State University’s truck driving school, which is housed at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport.
