Lorain County is driving headfirst into a new era of workforce development, powered by the rising demand for commercial truck drivers. Recognizing the need for certified professionals across municipalities, manufacturers and logistics companies, Lorain County JVS has launched a CDL program designed to prepare residents for high-demand, high-wage careers. A CDL is a commercial drivers license.
The idea began taking shape several years ago during a routine conversation between Lorain County JVS Adult Career Center Director Kristian Smith and officials from the City of Lorain. Their public works division made the challenge clear. “They told me they really needed people with a CDL license,” Smith recalls. Federal law had changed, making it impossible for workers to obtain a temporary commercial permit unless they were enrolled in a certified program. “That really started the wheels turning.”
Further conversations with other municipalities revealed the same message. “Everyone said they desperately needed people with that licensure,” Smith says. As he researched industry trends, he saw that the need was not only real but growing. With support from the superintendent, he applied for Ohio’s Super Rapids Grant. “We were awarded $290,000 to help get the program started,” he says. Most of the funding went toward purchasing tractors and 53-foot trailers, the same equipment students will encounter on the job.
To build a program that met both regulatory standards and industry expectations, JVS brought in Carlson Smith, a seasoned professional with more than 40 years behind the wheel and over 4 million miles of safe driving. As developer and training manager, he understands exactly what students need to succeed. “When you earn a Class A license, you are achieving the top tier,” he explains. “You are trained on how to operate tractor-trailers and semis in various situations. At the end, you have to take the federal skills and knowledge test. It is pass or fail. There is no maybe.”
His passion for the industry started early. “My father and grandfather owned trucks, and I stayed with it,” he says. His experience also inspired him to write Trucking Across USA, a reflection on life as an American trucker.
To prepare students for those opportunities, the new CDL program is built for both rigor and safety. The 160-hour curriculum includes 40 hours in the classroom and another 120 hours on the training range and road. The school recently constructed a dedicated training range as part of its parking lot renovation, a major investment that brought the program closer to launch. “That was a huge undertaking and exciting to see come to fruition,” Kristian says.
On that range, students gain hands-on experience with real-world maneuvers. “Parallel parking, alley docking, straight line backing, maneuvering around obstacles,” Carlson Smith explains. “They sit behind the wheel of a 53-foot trailer and learn to control it. They need at least ten hours of actual behind-the-wheel time.” Training includes both manual and automatic transmissions. “You push yourself that little extra mile,” he says. “You get the payback.”
Enrollment requires a learner’s permit, a DOT physical and a drug test. Tuition is set at $6,000. “We are not the cheapest, but we are not the most expensive,” Kristian Smith says. With starting wages around $57,000 and experienced drivers earning significantly more, the pathway offers a strong return on investment.
While employment cannot be guaranteed, the JVS Career Services team works closely with area employers who regularly recruit new drivers. Carlson Smith says the training itself will open doors. “We will change their lives. I guarantee that.”
After three years of planning, approvals and navigating regulatory requirements, seeing the program come to life is especially meaningful for the JVS team. “There was a lot of red tape,” Kristian Smith says. “This program is going to be part of what we do here for a very long time. We are excited to offer something that truly serves our community.”
