John Wood Community College to celebrate 30th anniversary of Truck Driver Training Program
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
John Wood Community College (JWCC) will mark the 30th anniversary of its Truck Driver Training Program with an open house Wednesday, September 25, in Quincy.
The program will hold an open house on Wednesday, September 25 from 4-6 p.m. with a brief program at 4:30 p.m. at the College’s Workforce Development Center at 2710 North 42nd Street in Quincy. The public is welcome to attend to tour the expanded truck driver training facilities, use the driving simulator and ride along with drivers on the College’s maneuvering range.
Since its establishment in September 1994, the program has trained thousands of professional truck drivers, making a significant impact on the regional and national transportation industry.
JWCC President Bryan Renfro in a press release from the College emphasized the strong connection between the program and the trucking industry in the region.
“Our Truck Driver Training Program has consistently set the standard for excellence in the industry,” Renfro said. “From the early support of Sharkey Transportation to the ongoing involvement of industry leaders, the program has benefited from strong community and industry backing. We are incredibly proud of the legacy we’ve built over the past 30 years.”
The JWCC Truck Driver Training program began under the leadership of its first director, Don Hess, who played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum and forging vital partnerships. Hess, who now serves as a JWCC trustee and is a national consultant in the field, was instrumental in securing initial support from Sharkey Transportation. The company provided the JWCC TDT program its first home and continued access to space at their facility for over a decade, allowing the program to thrive until its move to the College’s Workforce Development Center (WDC) in 2009.
Upon Hess’s retirement, veteran instructor and professional driver Phil Steinkamp took the wheel as director of the program for several years. Steinkamp has served JWCC’s Truck Driver Training program for more than 25 years and continues to instruct courses today at the WDC.
The program continues to strive to maintain the highest professional standards as a member of the National Association of Publicly Funded Transportation Schools and Illinois Trucking Association. Multiple transportation firms serve on the program’s advisory council, ensuring relevant and evolving skills are implemented in hands-on training.
In the last year alone, 90 JWCC students received their Certified Driver License (CDL) and more than 2,000 have been trained since the program’s inception.
JWCC’s Truck Driver Training Program offers a comprehensive range of courses designed to fit various schedules and needs. The program includes six week Class A and Class B CDL courses, and specialized endorsements. The next session begins September 23, with classes held at the Workforce Development Center in Quincy.
For more information about the Truck Driver Training Program, course offerings, or to enroll, please visit //www.jwcc.edu/truck or contact Kelly Lewis at 217-641-4371.
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