Fleet Force CDL training Manatee County: Program hits 10,000th graduate mark

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla - A Manatee County truck driving program works to expand training efforts to address a nationwide commercial driver shortage expected to top 1.1 million positions over the next decade.

High demand for drivers

What we know:

Fleet Force Truck Driving Training at the State College of Florida in Manatee County is actively working to place more drivers behind the wheel. Florida currently has more than 23,000 open commercial driver's license jobs, leaving thousands of trucks idle. Drivers transport essential items across the country, including daily necessities, home goods and construction materials.

This week, Fleet Force celebrated its 10,000th graduation from its four-week program. Charity Gaston was recognized as the 10,000th graduate, while Drexyl Eitniear was the 10,001st.

"The way that it’s signed up you come in at week 1 you don’t know any information you’re sitting in the class room you’re learning the ins and outs of trucking by that 2nd week you’re outside practicing your backing, third week you’re parallel parking a 50 foot trailer in a little spot by that 4th week you’re ready to test it’s a great program it sets you up from beginner to the end," said Gaston. 

Fleet Force now aims to train another 10,000 students to fill open positions across the nation.

Fast-track career training

What they're saying:

Program leaders say four weeks of instruction can change a student's career path, leading to competing company offers, benefits and six-figure salary potential.

"The freight has increased with different things like CDL revocations and school closures. It’s just so important to partner with schools like Fleet Force who take care in the quality and the type of students that they are bringing on," said Kort Chase, Vice President of Driver Recruitment for Swift Transportation. 
 

Students begin in the classroom during week one before moving outside to practice toward taking their test. 

"It feels good and to be a safe driver, I think, is the ultimate goal and to keep the roadways safe and to lead by example. I think our country could benefit off of drivers like me," Eitniear said.

Swift Transportation hiring incentives

What's next:

Fleet Force says students who enroll in the program from now through the end of the year will receive a guaranteed interview with a recruiter at Swift Transportation.