The Pedal to the Metal
The Roseburg News-Review - Aug. 16, 2005
The Cow Creek Tribe provides practical support for the new truck driving course now being offered at Umpqua Community College. Local companies need trained commercially licensed drivers.
By Danielle Gillespie
MYRTLE CREEK -- Ever since Richard Hitchman of Myrtle Creek was a child, he wanted to sit behind the wheel of a great big truck.
Hitchman, 44, used to ride around with his father who was a truck driver, and that got him interested in the career. His two brothers also drive trucks for a living.
That's why Hitchman decided to enroll in Umpqua Community College's new truck driving program, which began at the end of July.
"The more I do it, the easier it gets and the more fun it is," said Hitchman, who worked for Roseburg Forest Products for 26 years.
Hitchman and two other students participating will finish the four-week course Friday. They have the option of staying for a fifth week for specialty training on specific trucks. When they complete the program, they'll receive a commercial driver's license.
UCC decided to develop the truck driving program because local companies said they needed drivers, said UCC President Blaine Nisson.
Truck driving is one of six new programs UCC is offering. The other programs -- culinary, construction, education, wildland firefighting and aviation -- will start this fall.
To make the trucking program a reality, UCC turned to the community for help.
"We couldn't do this without the community partnerships because state funding (for community colleges) is in short supply," Nisson said.
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians donated about five acres under a one-year contract for the students to practice backing up the trucks. The land is off of Interstate 5 Exit 113.
County commissioners gave the college $54,000 for the school's two trucks, which both have walk-in sleepers. Andy Owens, owner of A&M Transport, Inc., in Glendale, donated a flatbed trailer and did maintenance work on the trucks to prepare them for driving as an in-kind service. Terrain Tamers, Inc., donated a cab, and many other local truck driving companies have donated products, said Sandra Utley, the program developer for the trucking program.
On Monday, County Commissioners Dan Van Slyke and Marilyn Kittelman visited the driving school to view the first graduating class in action.
They watched as the students took turns backing up the trucks between orange cones. The students spend half the day backing up the trucks and the other half driving in city limits and on highways and freeways. They learn how to maintain a log book, how to conduct a pre-trip inspection and about road safety, said Utley, who's worked in the truck driving industry for 18 years. She teaches the class and will hire a part-time instructor.
Van Slyke said the county was interested because it wants to help create more family-waged jobs for area residents.
People will be able to complete the program quickly and find work right away, he said.
The cost for the class is $3,600, which does not include fees for taking the CDL test or for any endorsements. The tuition covers salaries, diesel and maintenance on the trucks, Nisson said.
The college is in the process of developing a scholarship program. Some people can barely pay for groceries and rent, said Terry Peek, UCC dean of instruction. The scholarships will make the program more accessible.
Hitchman is currently collecting unemployment, and his wife Kelly does not work. He and Kelly have two adopted 16-year-old children. Hitchman said by participating in the truck driving program, he'll have more employment options. He would like to haul logs locally until his children are grown. Then, he wants to hit the road and drive long-haul trucks for miles and miles.
"I want to see some of the countryside," Hitchman said. "I've lived in this county my whole life. It would be nice to get out of here, I think."
With Cow Creek help New Umpqua Community College truck driving course helps local trucking students get ready for the open road.
WHAT: Umpqua Community College truck driving program.
WHEN: The next session begins Sept. 12, and is open to three to six students.
INFORMATION: Sandra Utley, 580-0390.
