|
Updated: 7:38 PM Aug 6, 2009
Enrollment Up at Truck Driving School
Truck driving is one industry in our area that is desperate to add workers- just as many others are cutting jobs.
Posted: 6:43 PM Aug 6, 2009Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
truck
|
6 Comments
Font Size:
DUNBAR, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It’s a chance to experience the open road, travel the country and get paid well all at the same time. The truck driving industry is desperate to add workers, just as many others are cutting jobs.
David Belcher was one of the casualties of a recent layoff. Now, the 48-year-old coal miner is shifting into a new gear.
“I thought this would be a good job to go into,” said Belcher.
Layoffs are just one of the reasons truck driving schools are seeing enrollment skyrocket.
Harold Travis is one of the instructors at the PIA Truck Driving School in Dunbar. He drove a truck for 38 years and logged nearly three million miles through every state in the country.
Travis says until recently it was a struggle to get students.
“Our class sizes have doubled. We used to have one truck for training and now we’re up to two. Our classes are full now,” said Travis.
The PIA trucking school charges a little more than $4,000 for tuition. The four-week course earns students their CDL license. State funding and financial aid in West Virginia is increasing, making it easier for students to pay for the truck driving school.
Once students have their licenses Travis says they are guaranteed a decent salary.
“The pay is $30,000 to $40,000 for the first year. After that, it’s up to you. But, there will always be jobs in trucking. You need trucks to transport goods,” said Travis.
Latest Comments
Posted by: Jon
on Aug 9, 2009 at 11:56 AM
This is not a good time to be in the trucking industry. I have been in this business for 28 years and it's terrible right now. The rates for O/O are at the lowest in 30 years. I made more as a O/O in the early 80s than I make now. If you don't have any expirence then you WONT get a job, because too many veterans are being laid off and filling the jobs. If you want to spend all your time in a truckstop, eat overpriced meals at a truckstop, sleep for days in a truckstop, shower in a filthy truckstop and risk being robbed daily then this is your dream job. The pay is low, the waiting times are high and the traffic is a nightmare. After all the deductions you won't make $300.00 a week if you're lucky. Too many trucks are chasing cheap freight and the good paying loads are very scarce and very few. My advice is look for another career. You will starve to death in this one. It's not all it's percieved as and you will regret it right now. Maybe one day it will get better.
Posted by: Anonymous
on Aug 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Hey earl, never fear you can always drive a truck, pick up hitchhiking hippes and kill them.
Posted by: Jennifer
on Aug 7, 2009 at 06:26 AM
Let me start by saying as a former employee at this location this training program is a great program. The admissions staff and and Mr. Travis are just wonderful with their students and have a proven track record in helping individuals find employment during and after training. If you don't have your CDL get it! It opens the door to many opportunities for local and long haul jobs. I have worked for two sep. companies and this is Top Notch! You will never receive better training! Give Debbie a call and she will work her majic!
More Stories
$310,000,000
Live Feed Now on the Always On Channel
|
|
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
WSAZ.com Most Popular / Most Comments
- UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
- Business Destroyed by Fire in Logan County
- BREAKING NEWS: Former Sunoco in Huntington Shut Down
- NASCAR Racer Visits Charleston
- IRS Warns to Expect Some Refund Delays
- UPDATE: Man Charged in Violent Armed Robbery at Huntington Bar
- St. Albans Man Arrested in Large Drug Bust
- Residents Hopeful Dunbar Police Will Move to New Neighborhood
- Three Aging W.Va. Power Plants Closing
- W.Va. Lawmakers Working to Protect More Victims of Stalking and Abuse
- UPDATE: Vigil for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl
430 Comments - UPDATE: New Chief Deputy in Mason County Releases Department Mission Statement
148 Comments - UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
61 Comments - UPDATE: Some Questions Remain Unanswered in Deadly CO Leak
48 Comments - UPDATE: Man Accused of Victimizing Elderly Found Guilty of Kidnapping; Victim Dies
40 Comments - UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
24 Comments
CNN.com News Headlines
- British ambassador to Syria: 'It's too shocking to ignore'
- 10 states out of No Child Left Behind
- Driver saves kids from burning bus
- Iraq executes 65 people in 40 days
- Utah inmate asks to die by firing squad
- Mississippi pardons challenged
- Carville: GOP, your real problem is Mitt
- Drug reverses Alzheimer's in mice
- Driver herds kids off bus before it blows
- 10 states leave school law behind
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- Embattled LA school reopens
- Mississippi court hears challenge to pardons
- High court rejects stay in Spanish sunken treasure case
- Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home
- Resolution to N. Dakota school nickname dispute still seems far off
- The deadly path to legal status
- Birth control by vending machine
- Video of Chinese toddler sobbing in snow sparks outrage
- Challenger to Chavez showing strength in Venezuela
- Spy agency called before Pakistani high court
- Court suspends Spain's most famous judge
- Deposed president faces arrest in the Maldives
- Greek leaders ready to back austerity deal
- More than 700 suffer food poisoning after Mexico rally
- Asylum or 'medical leave' for Chinese crime buster?
- UK: 'No negotiations' on Falklands
- Freeze strains Ukrainian EMS
- Band camp, other clubs suspended
- Champion remembered at event
- More members accused of hazing
- Sandusky urged to stay inside
- Words matter in Penn State case
- Out-of-county jury for Sandusky?
- 4th accuser drops abuse allegations
- Accuser pleads guilty to child sex
- Attorney: Victims to sue university
- Miss. high court considers pardons
- Lakers visit Celtics
- Lengthy run of All-Star selections end for Duncan, KG
- Don Banks: Biggest offseason questions in the NFL
- Nowitzki, 5 first-timers among All-Star reserves
- Tiger off to solid start at Pebble Beach
- Rangers, Cruz agree on two-year, $16M contract
- With Lin emerging, Knicks games added in Asia
- SB Nation: Explaining Lin's surprise early success
- 'Oil Can' Boyd admits pitching while high on coke
- Leafs, Wings set for '13 Winter Classic
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
 |
SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more |
 |
Click here for school closings and delays |
 |
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here. |
 |
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. |
 |
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you. |
 |
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier. |
First Warning Hour-By-Hour Forecasts
