Central Tech Expands Truck Driver Program As Industry Faces Major Shortage

Leaders at Central Tech's Truck Driver Training said there is a massive shortage of truck drivers across the country right now. It's part of the reason why Central Tech recently announced an expansion of the truck driving program.

The driver shortage sits at around 80,000, and industry experts think it could reach 100,000 by the end of the year. That's why Central Tech is expanding its program for 14 other technology centers across the state of Oklahoma.

Central Tech said it's seen its program grow over the last several years with 550 truck-driving graduates during fiscal year 2024.

The hope is that the expansion will help double the number of program graduates over the next two years and increase the supply of skilled drivers.

"We are at 14 of the 29 schools right now, and we call those satellite courses. So, we kind of rotate through a lot of those programs, but what it’s done is it’s made it to where we could take our program to those areas, to one of those career techs and we can provide truck driver training," John Thorpe, the director of Central Tech's truck driver training said.

Thorpe said part of the reason for the expansion is also to help offset the number of truck drivers that are starting to leave the industry in addition to the current shortage of drivers.

"For the most part, the transfer of goods has gone up and the shortage of drivers is going up because of the fact that a lot of our drivers are retiring and they’re getting out of the profession," Thorpe said.

This program is all over the state from Central Tech in Drumright to High Plains Technology Center in Woodward even to Green Country Technology Center in Okmulgee.

The program itself is a 28-day program to get students the training they need and on the road with good starting pay.