Area high school students drove a tractor trailer on Feb. 4 as Capital Region BOCES joined forces with The Shay Foundation to promote the trades during national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.
High school juniors and seniors in the Diesel Technology program at the CTE Albany Campus drove a tractor trailer simulator provided by the foundation and in the process, learned the skills it takes to earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and how rewarding a career path being a truck driver is.
“It was good, fun. It showed you what it takes to get a CDL,” said Jackson Guy, a senior from Scotia-Glenville.
Classmate Nicholas Smith agreed.
“It showed you what you have to look out for and what it is like behind the wheel of a (tractor trailer). It was a good experience,” the Middleburgh teenager said.
Both students, and the majority of those taking part in the virtual experience on Wednesday, plan to pursue their CDLs as part of their future career paths.
“I do a lot of deliveries for my current employer, so it would be helpful to get my CDL,” Guy said.
Representatives of The Shay Foundation, which works with the Trucking Association of New York, say there is a crucial need for new drivers and graduates of CTE programs make excellent candidates to fill those jobs.
“We will have a 160,000-driver shortage by 2030 if we don’t stem the tide. What does this mean? All of the stops you make on your way to work or home will get a little more expensive, everything will get more costly to acquire, the scarcity will be more prevalent, if we don’t solve this problem,” the foundation’s Alan Gaines said during a visit to Capital Region BOCES earlier this school year.
Gaines said that the Diesel Technology program is a “phenomenal program” and a great starting place for future commercial truck drivers.
“We are hoping to inspire a few of these folks to get their CDL and come join our ranks,” he said.
The Wednesday presentation was part of Capital Region BOCES’ celebration of national CTE Month, which is meant as a time to shine a light on meaningful experiences students take part in at CTE that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement.
Capital Region BOCES works with more than 400 business, union and education partners—including The Shay Foundation—to help fuel the regional and state economies. Through these partnerships, students are able to launch careers directly out of high school or land jobs that will help them pay for future educational opportunities.
“Partnerships like (withThe Shay Foundation) create incredible opportunities for our students to explore the trades and see firsthand the pathways available to them,” Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said .
There are approximately 40 students enrolled in the two-year Diesel Technology program this school year. The program prepares graduates for careers as automotive/bus/truck technicians, heavy equipment repair technicians, service managers and more. While many students enter the workforce upon graduation, numerous other students from the program often pursue further education.