A commercial driver’s license training program has opened in central Maine with a goal to address growing demand for qualified commercial drivers across Maine and strengthen the industry’s workforce pipeline.
American Transportation Academy, at 165 River Road in Chelsea, was established by Toby and Trisha Watson, owners of Statewide Towing Inc. in the same Kennebec County town.
“Everywhere we turned, we heard the same thing,” said Trisha Watson. “Whether it was heavy construction companies, electric utilities, municipalities, transportation companies or businesses like our own, employers are struggling to find drivers with a commercial license.
“We knew there were people ready to work, but they needed access to classes without sitting on a waiting list,” she added.
Maine’s trucking industry is booming, helped by industries with an increased need for trucking services, but a driver shortage has been an impediment to continued growth.
Firsthand experience
The Watsons created the academy to address the problem they have experienced firsthand for years: finding qualified commercially licensed drivers and accessing quality training programs without long waitlists.
When their son began exploring a career in commercial driving, he discovered many of Maine’s training programs were already full, forcing prospective students to wait weeks, if not months, before beginning their careers, they said.
The academy offers a six-week, 147-hour Class A commercial driver’s license training program that combines classroom instruction with extensive behind-the-wheel experience.
Class A allows drivers to operate combination vehicles such as tractor-trailers.
Students also have opportunities to prepare for endorsements such as air brakes, tank vehicles and hazardous materials.
The program meets all entry-level driver training requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and is listed on the administration’s training provider registry.
Small class sizes will allow instructors to provide individualized coaching and more time behind the wheel.
Freightliner tractor
The academy has one instructor so far, with plans to add another teaching position as enrollment grows and the school develops, the Watsons told Mainebiz in an email interview.
Trisha Watson is involved in the administrative side, handling much of the behind-the-scenes work. Toby Watson serves primarily in an advisory role, bringing his experience as a business owner and from the transportation industry to the school.
The academy is permitted to enroll up to six students per class. Tuition is $8,500, with several financial assistance options available to eligible students, including three scholarship programs.
Depending on the program and a student’s eligibility, funding could help cover tuition and other training-related expenses such as books, supplies, transportation and child care.
Students train with a 2019 Freightliner single-axle tractor and two 53-foot trailers. As enrollment grows, the plan is to continue expanding the fleet and training resources, including incorporating virtual driving simulation technology to give students additional opportunities to build and practice skills in a controlled environment.
The academy was established through a combination of private funds and a business loan.
Earlier this year, the Maine Department of Labor and Maine Department of Transportation announced $300,000 in grants to expand CDL training opportunities across the state, citing commercial driving as one of Maine’s most in-demand occupations, according to a news release.
For more information, visit the academy’s website or call (207) 242-0641.
