Most people never think about truck drivers until something goes wrong. Maybe it’s empty shelves at the grocery store. A delayed delivery. A missing part that brings production to a halt. When the supply chain slows down, everyone feels it.
A unique partnership between the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), the EDC, TVA Economic Development, Armored Trucking Academy, and other industry leaders is helping students launch high-demand careers while addressing a growing supply-chain challenge.
This spring, the first cohort of students completed the new CMCSS CDL-A training program, an initiative that allows high school seniors an opportunity to earn their commercial driver’s licenses before graduation. While the program may seem focused on trucking, its impact reaches much further – to workforce development, economic growth, and the future of one of the region’s most essential industries.
How it started: aging drivers, fewer truckers
The idea began when CMCSS approached the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council about launching a CDL program. At the same time, the EDC was pursuing funding through TVA Economic Development’s Workforce Invest grant program. The result was a collaboration involving CMCSS, TVA, the Industrial Development Board and Armor Trucking Academy that transformed an idea into a long-term workforce solution.
“This career technical education program is designed to get students their CDL-A while still attending high school,” said Chris Self, the EDC’s director of workforce development.
For Self, the need was clear. The trucking industry faces an aging workforce, with more experienced drivers approaching retirement and fewer young people entering the profession. Meanwhile, logistics remains one of the most critical sectors supporting the local and national economy.
“With a lack of truck drivers, your supply chain is bottlenecked,” Self said. “We need to keep that workforce supply so that bottleneck is not so narrow.”
Free program with variety of uses
The program does more than train future over-the-road drivers. Students interested in becoming linemen, diesel mechanics, heavy-equipment operators and entering other skilled trades can also benefit from earning a CDL-A early in their careers. Better yet, the program is completely free for participating students.
One of the most interesting aspects of the program involves what the trucking industry calls “yard dogs,” workers who move trucks and trailers around distribution yards and logistics facilities. Because many insurance companies restrict younger drivers under 26 from operating commercial vehicles on public roads, yard dog positions provide valuable hands-on experience while allowing young workers to build skills behind the wheel.
“Backing a truck is not easy,” Self said. “Driving forward on an interstate, that’s easy. Trying to back that thing into a loading dock, that’s a whole different story.”
Truck drivers can make over 6 figures in 3 years
Those early opportunities help students gain experience and establish themselves in an industry that offers significant earning potential.
“A truck driver could easily make over $100,000 a year within three years of being on the road,” Self said. “Here’s a six-figure potential with zero education debt.”
The program has already secured funding and commitments from partners that will allow approximately 125 students to complete training over the next decade.
For Self, success won’t simply be measured by the number of licenses issued. He hopes to see more young people entering the industry and lowering the average age of the local trucking workforce.
For the rest of us, the measure may be even simpler.
When products keep moving, businesses keep growing and opportunities keep expanding, everybody wins. And thanks to a group of local partners working together, the next generation helping drive that success may already be sitting in a Clarksville classroom.