CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A proposal being considered by county leaders would create a partnership that would allow dozens of students to acquire their commercial driving license (CDL) certifications at no cost.

During the Montgomery County Commission’s latest informal meeting, Josh Ward, executive director of the local Industrial Development Board, told those in attendance the IDB is eligible for a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority to help create the program.

The partnership among the IDB, Armored Trucking Academy and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System would allow up to 25 CMCSS students to complete all of the training required to earn a CDL – at no cost to CMCSS or the students – over the course of the next two years, according to schools spokesman Anthony Johnson.

Normally, the cost to obtain such a license would be about $6,000 for a student.

If the grant is awarded, this would be the first program of its kind for high school students in the state, Johnson said.

Proposed rezoning

Creating the program will require rezoning around 4.3 acres of IDB land off Dunlop Lane, restricting it from M-2 to M-1.

“Most of the land on the other side of the road is heavy industrial, so we understand this is in a buffer zone; we want to restrict it to light industrial,” Ward said.

He went on to say the land was acquired 10 years ago when Atlas BX, now known as Hankook & Company, came to town. The IDB originally thought Hankook would need two access points, but the access point on International Boulevard is sufficient, according to Ward.

With this in mind, Ward said the IDB wants to use this land for matching funds for the project, and in return, the TVA will send the $100,000 in grant money. “The grant is not guaranteed, but we should know later this summer if we qualify,” Ward said.

Need for drivers with CDL

At a previous IDB meeting on April 10, Director of Workforce Development Chris Self explained that truck driving is an aging field, with the average age of drivers being 45.

“They’re aging out. We don’t have young truck drivers typically anymore,” Self said. “The average pay for a truck driver in Tennessee … is just shy of $40,000. So it’s definitely a viable career for an 18-year-old just graduating high school with a CDL.”

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Following the commission meeting, Johnson sent Clarksville Now a statement. “As the industrial footprint of Clarksville-Montgomery County continues to expand, the demand from local employers for employees who hold a CDL will continue to grow as well. Earning a CDL in high school would provide students with transferrable job skills across the transportation industry.

“It could lead to part-time or summer employment with local delivery services or trucking companies, offering hands-on experience and potential income during school breaks. Additionally, obtaining a CDL early can lay a strong foundation for a career in truck driving or related fields after graduation, providing financial stability and flexibility.”

Johnson said CMCSS is committed to thinking outside the box, not only for scheduling students in both core content classes and the hours needed to earn their CDL, but also in providing guidance and support to ensure student success with both endeavors.

Chris Smith contributed to this report.