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Iowa Valley launches CDL course at MCC

By Lana Bradstream 2 min read
T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM Iowa Valley Community College District President President Anne Howsare Boyens cheers at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting for the new CDL training program. The program begins in September at Marshalltown Community College, and students can choose a four-week course or an eight-week.

Big trucks and college experience come together through a new Iowa Valley Community College District training program. Launched Tuesday on the Marshalltown Community College (MCC) campus, the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training is the result of IVCCD officials listening to the needs of communities, businesses and industries.

"It was about a year and a half, two years in the making," said IVCCD President Anne Howsare Boyens "It was listening to our businesses and industries, to their needs, whether it be manufacturing, food processing, all of our industries need CDL drivers. So, we are very excited to start the program. We have many, many business and industry partners across the district we get to work with."

IVCCD CDL Coordinator Brent Darrah said prospective students need to get Commercial Learner's Permits and then sign up for the course on the district website, iavalley.edu.

"Then they can come to the class," he said.

Howsare Boyens said signing up for the course online is the easiest way to register, and if anyone has troubles, they can call IVCCD and staff will help.

To make the class possible, IVCCD purchased two semi trucks to give the students hands-on experience. According to Howsare Boyens, there is extra seating space in the back of the cabs for students to learn and observe.

"This is a mobile classroom for all of them," she said. "It's small, but it's very short term."

There are two programs students can choose from – a four-week and an eight-week.

"The four week (program) is shorter, so there's less drive time," Darrah said. "[The eight-week program] is for the students who need a little extra drive time out there. You can start in September and be on the road in November. We start a class every month, every four weeks."

Howsare Boyens noted the program is district wide, starting at MCC. Students have already signed up for the course and she added there are still openings available. The course will begin in September, with registration ending Sept. 13. Eventually, classes will also be held in Grinnell and Iowa Falls, she said.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

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