Alexander Winton was overwhelmed when he received nearly two dozen orders for a single-cylinder, 10-horsepower motor carriage he designed and built in 1897.
An ad he placed in Scientific American magazine touted a vehicle with “no odor, no vibration” and a $1,000 price tag. The challenge of assembling the cars by hand at a Cleveland, Ohio, factory was likely less daunting than the task of delivering them in like-new condition to buyers across the country.
Need spawned ingenuity in Cuyahoga County. Winton, a former bicycle maker, engineered a clever car-hauling “unit,” which was the first semi-trailer (void of a front axle). The “big rig” was born.
Today, an estimated 2.2 million heavy truck and tractor-trailer truck drivers are needed to ensure safe and timely delivery of goods nationwide, according to information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Well-trained drivers are always in demand. Canadian Valley Technology Center has partnered with Central Tech to bring that school’s successful 28-day, Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program to El Reno.
Classes begin Jan. 6 and a second group begins April 24 at CV Tech’s El Reno Campus. Class size is limited to eight persons. The program boasts a 99% placement rate and equips students with the skills and experience needed for successful careers in the trucking industry. Starting pay currently averages $61,000 per year.
Class times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The training model includes 234 hours of instruction, including roughly 60 hours of driving. The formula includes two students per truck. Hazmat theory training is included in curriculum but not testing.
Tuition is $4,800. Limited financial aid options do not include Pell or FAFSA. Veterans qualify for a $350 discount with proof of a DD Form 214.
Coursework is at CV Tech. Trucks will be based at the former Canadian County Fairgrounds facility at 220 N Country Club Rd., in El Reno.
Applicants must be Oklahoma residents at least 18 years old and hold a valid Oklahoma Driver’s License. Graduates of the program are limited to driving within state lines until age 21. Apply online at www.centraltech.edu.
Truck Driver Training
28-day, Class A CDL Program
Tuition cost: $4,800
Provided by: Central Technology Center
Coursework: CV Tech’s El Reno Campus
Class times: M-F, 8 am – 4 pm
Trucks Location: Former Canadian County Fairgrounds, 220 N Country Club Rd., El Reno
Apply online: www.centraltech.edu
