The anticipated start date for the new Class B CDL course is October 2025.
Victoria College has been awarded a $256,100 Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Through Education (TRUE) grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) course.
This is the fourth TRUE grant that VC has received to expand its Truck Driving Program. The anticipated start date for the new Class B CDL course is October 2025.
The latest grant will allow VC to hire a new instructor to teach Class B CDL courses in Victoria. It will also fund the purchase of a vehicle to provide students with real-world driving instruction and the renovation of the truck driving range. Funding will also be used to promote course enrollment and provide scholarships for students enrolled in the Class B CDL course.
A Class B CDL is required to drive a vehicle weighing 26,001 pounds or more, such as delivery or courier trucks, concrete trucks, utility repair vehicles and towing trucks.
According to Lightcast, workforce projections indicate the truck driving occupation will experience a 10 percent increase in jobs in VC’s service area through 2030. Projections show commercial truck drivers in the Golden Crescent region earn a median wage of $22.73 per hour.
Since 2006, VC has offered truck driving training through a partnership with Houston Community College. Several TRUE grants have allowed VC to establish its own program starting in February 2024, better serving the local workforce and community.
VC previously received a $115,000 TRUE grant in 2021 to purchase a state-of-the-art truck driving simulator, followed by a $515,200 TRUE grant in 2022 to purchase four semi-trucks and trailers. In 2024, a $250,000 TRUE grant supported VC in preparing students to receive a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
The $256,100 grant fully funds the launch of the Class B CDL course, covering project expenses.
VC’s Truck Driving Program is available at locations in both Victoria and Gonzales. The program is guided by an industry advisory committee. Local employers are invited to join VC in shaping the program to meet regional workforce needs.
Visit VictoriaCollege.edu/Truck Driving to learn more about the program.