Big Bend CDL Program Gets Visit, Donation from LTI, Inc.

Students enrolled in Big Bend Community College’s Commercial Truck Driving Program (CDL) got an inside look at what it would be like to work for LTI, Incorporated this week when they hosted a visit with the company’s Business Development Manager Al Hartgraves and Central Regional Manager John Hillman.

The duo walked through the many benefits and expectations the students should expect to experience once becoming certified and entering the job market, as well as the benefits and expectations of a driver for LTI, Inc.

The visit comes on the heels of a recent donation from LTI to the college’s CDL program of two sets of un-baffled double, smooth bore tanker trailers.

“It’s because of industry leaders like LTI who understand the importance of putting a well-trained CDL driver on the road behind a loaded 18-wheeler that our CDL training program here at Big Bend is possible,” said BBCC CDL Instructor, Guillermo Garza. “The donation will provide our CDL students with a much greater knowledge and understanding of how to maintain, couple, and uncouple a set of double trailers and give them hands-on experience that will compliment what they are learning in the classroom.”

The tankers will also be utilized during the behind-the-wheel portion of Big Bend’s training course and will be a highly important teaching tool. Students will get to experience real-life scenarios regarding the surge that occurs with loaded un-baffled, smooth bore tankers.

Big Bend Community College offers a six-week CDL training course to people who are interested in getting a CDL class A license. The classes are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the CDL program has an enrollment on average of fifty to sixty students per year.

Since 2004, Big Bend’s CDL program has boasted a 97 percent success rate. Fifty-one classes have been offered and 343 students have enrolled — 343 of those students have passed the state CDL exam. For more information on the CDL program at Big Bend, contact Garza at (509) 793-2221 or by e-mail at guillermog@bigbend.edu.