CCBC’s trucks get a fresh look

A good portion of this country's economic base travels daily over ribbons of roadways all across America by way of trucks and buses. CCBC’s Continuing Education and Economic Development (CEED) division adds to that ability to move goods and people each time a new student completes the Commercial Drivers Licensing (CDL) program. And now the trucking program has a fresh look thanks to newly painted vehicles used by CDL students.

According to Bruce List, coordinator of the CDL program, truck and bus driver training began in 1993 as a classroom-only course. “At that time, the college subcontracted the driving portion of the class and students were transported by van to a driving range in Cecil County,” he said. “Five years later we obtained our first truck and secured a driving range site in Pasadena (Md.).”

That single truck increased quickly to four 18-wheelers. Now the college’s CDL program boasts six tractor-trailers, two straight trucks (those that don’t bend in the middle) and one bus as part of its hands-on driving vehicle fleet. The vehicles currently used are 1995 model tractor-trailers that measure nearly 60 feet in length.

While each truck sports a sign featuring the CCBC logo, the college’s Public Relations department recently created a new design for the truck. The process of painting the first truck took about 12 weeks. Aluminum panels were added to the ribbed sides of that truck to make the surface smooth enough to hold the fresh face of the painted lettering. In addition to the refurbished 18-wheeler, one straight truck was vinyl-wrapped to accept the new billboard-like design during a three-week process. Now students training for Class A (tractor trailer), Class B (straight truck) or Class B with passenger endorsement (bus) can learn to drive in style while promoting the program to potential students.