Minnesota State Commercial Driver Academy

Collaborative approach to close critical gap in Twin Cities area technical education

The Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, St. Paul College and Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) are partnering to address a critical shortage of skilled professionals with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. This collaborative approach has led to the development of the Minnesota State Commercial Driver Academy.

Bob Trewartha, director of the Minnesota Training Connection at DCTC and Inver Hills Community College, reported that the Commercial Driver Academy has received a $50,000 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) planning grant.

“The partnership will be submitting a larger MJSP implementation grant proposal in the coming months,” Bob said. “Most of the behind-the-wheel CDL training will take place at the Decision Driving Range, a 2.8-mile track on the DCTC campus in Rosemount, Minnesota. The Commercial Driver Academy will deliver a curriculum that is not only focused on driving proficiency, but also professionalism, ethics and communication skills.”

Carl Borleis, director of program excellence at the Transportation Center of Excellence, explained that the colleges and center have joined forces with the trucking industry to create a customized-training program that will prepare students to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and launch careers as professional truck drivers.

“The campus partners are working with each other, trucking industry employers and the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) to develop a sustainable business plan for CDL training programs in the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area,” Carl said. “The collaborative group will also establish a statewide CDL resource hub that will provide subject-matter expertise, technical information and equipment to all CDL programs at Minnesota State campuses.”

According to the MTA: “By the end of 2018, the trucking industry was short 60,000 drivers, with a potential shortfall of 100,000 in the next five years. Across Minnesota at the end of 2019, there were 3,543 truck driver vacancies and 334 technician vacancies and this shortage will only get worse. The Minnesota Trucking Association supports state initiatives for truck driver and technician training to fill the workforce gaps leading to great paying trucking jobs in Minnesota.”

Bay & Bay Transportation: Trucking industry perspective…

Sam Anderson

“Bay & Bay wants to help the Minnesota State Commercial Driver Academy with this new venture. There are a lot of great career opportunities in trucking. The challenge is there are a number of hurdles that make it hard for the average person to gain the knowledge and experience needed to get their CDL.
“Then, once a person has their CDL, it’s oftentimes hard to get a good job due to the insurance market and insurance companies pushing companies to not accept new CDL holders until they get one year’s experience in driving.
“Our industry and our country need more professional truck drivers. There has never been a better time to get your CDL and make a career in trucking.”
Sam Anderson
President and CEO
Bay & Bay Transportation

About Us

Bay & Bay is a family-owned trucking and logistics company that has been delivering high quality transportation solutions since 1941. Headquartered in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area in Minnesota, we offer transportation solutions nationwide.

Whether you’re looking for a new multi-modal service provider, or an exciting new driving career, we invite you to experience our Quality Driven Tradition.

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Crucial statewide economic benefits

The safe and efficient movement of goods transported by trained truck drivers is essential to a prosperous Minnesota economy. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) provide the following Minnesota Trucking Fast Facts:

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Transport goods around the country on trucks with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).

WAGE

Above the statewide median of $21.49/hour.

Minnesota

Median: $23.84/hour
High: $28.76/hour

Seven-county Twin Cities metro

Median: $25.16/hour
High: $29.94/hour

OUTLOOK

In Minnesota, there are 35,150 workers employed in this very large career, which is currently in very high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate is 6.6 percent. There will be a need for about 47,962 new Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers to meet market demand between 2018–2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Minnesota State CAREERwise Education

Learn more about the Minnesota State Commercial Driver Academy by contacting:

Carl Borleis
Director of Program Excellence
Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence
651-423-8577

Chris Hadfield
Director
Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence
651-423-8311

Bob Trewartha
Director of Workforce Training & Continuing Education
Minnesota Training Connection
651-423-8275