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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton campus is ready to start its new commercial driver’s license class with the recent completion of its practice track.

Leah Bigbee, Jeff State director of Workforce Education, said the track, which is three-fourths of a mile provides space for students to practice specific skills behind the wheel.

Bigbee said the first class will start on Aug. 22.

“We are excited that we are launching our inaugural program,” Bigbee said. “It is something that we know is a great need for our state and our country.”

The program is something the college has wanted to offer for a long time.

Interest has been high for this first course, which will meet 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Bigbee said the college received more than 200 interest forms through its website.

“We have been very grateful for our business and industry support statewide for these efforts,” Bigbee said.

Future partnerships to provide CDL training for employees is also being discussed.

The first class will have 12 students, but the college has plans to offer the course on an ongoing basis.

“We were lucky enough to receive an ARC, Appalachian Regional Commission, grant to offer scholarships for the first four (eight-week) classes,” Bigbee said.

In the future, multiple classes of the course will be offered in the same eight-week time frame in order to have night and weekend class options.

Training Coordinator Alex Blevins said students must be 18 years old on the first day of class. Additional requirements include high school diploma or GED, Alabama driver’s license for at least one year, DOT medical form, commercial driver’s license permit and a motor vehicle report.

Jeff State is also applying to become a third-party testing site for the CDL.

Interest applications can be filled out at any time at jeffersonstate.edu/cdl.