In 2021, the local Employment Security office reported CDL drivers in the top three occupations in demand with a national trucking shortage of over 68,000 drivers. According to the American Trucking Association report, this shortage has now risen to 80,000 drivers and may yet rise as high as 160,000 by 2030.

The North Franklin School District includes four rural towns with a collective districtwide minority population of 70%. Connell High School’s 9th-12th grade enrollment of 600 students matches the district’s minority population, 70% of whom are also economically disadvantaged. The community is largely agriculture dependent.

Local employers in seed production, chemical fertilizer, food processing and production, storage and warehousing, as well as large-scale operations such as AutoZone and Amazon, approached the school district with their growing concerns for finding qualified CDL licensed drivers. An employer-led advisory committee echoed this concern concluding a regional labor market analysis and in collaboration with the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council (BFWDC) and Tri Cities Economic Development Council (TRIDEC), the school district identified transportation and warehousing occupations to be one of the fastest growing, high-demand industry sector expansions over the next few years.

In response to the local, state, and national shortage of qualified CDL drivers, NFSD created the OSPI-approved high school CDL preparatory class to address the nation’s growing talent shortage and supply chain disruption.

According to Bill Walker, principal at Connell High School, “This course was really developed in response to local industry demand and has been community driven and supported from the beginning.”

The success of this program is due in part to the instructional and administrative support. Not only is the agriculture instructor, Charlie Dansie, a licensed Class-A CDL holder and certified instructor, but the superintendent completed his commercial driver’s license in response to a bus drivers’ shortage so he could fill routes when needed to help ensure students made it to school. Dansie is also forklift-certified to train and license students so students in the CDL preparatory and agriculture courses have the opportunity to attain additional industry recognized credentials for improved employability.

As an elective, this course is part of the school’s career and technical education program, helping students gain workplace skills through hands-on learning. The one-semester, 90-hour senior-level CDL preparatory course provides classroom instruction in truckdriver theory, pre-trip inspection, and safety training to ensure students are prepared for the daily tasks of truck driving, and any high-risk situations that may occur.

Sheri Call, president and CEO of the Washington Trucking Associations, is excited about the pilot program at Connell High and what it could mean for both the industry and other schools in Washington.

“We are excited to see such a strong interest in this initial pilot. We are already looking for ways to secure additional funding from the Legislature and other private trucking companies so that we can increase training and apprenticeship opportunities for more students statewide,” said Call. “Washington, like other states, is experiencing a labor shortage. We need to do more so that students see trucking as a viable career path and will stay engaged in school,” said Call.

“Trucking plays such an integral role in our supply chain, especially when it comes to agricultural products. I have to credit the North Franklin School District and teachers like Charlie Danise for taking on the challenge of creating this new course to better meet the needs of their students.”

With support from the CHS Seeds for Stewardship and Northwest Farm Credit Services Rural Community grants, Connell High School has adopted the new SambaSafety OnRamp Entry-Level-Driver-Training (ELDT) curriculum, in accordance with new federal training requirements effective February, 2022. In addition, the Cattlemen’s Association awarded the funds deemed necessary for the District to purchase a class A truck from The J.R. Simplot Company at a discounted rate.

“It is with the support and engagement of business, industry, and the local community, that has afforded Connell High School the opportunity to create this high-quality, relevant and high-tech program. We are most appreciative,” said Keeley Gant, CTE Director for ESD 123 serving North Franklin, Kiona Benton, Finley and Columbia school districts.

North Franklin’s mission extends beyond the students it serves, but to the community in which it resides as well. The district is now working with WorkSource Columbia Basin and Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Washington to identify qualifying students who may be eligible for federal training funds to help support the truck driving portion of their training through an approved eligible training provider, such as Saddle Mountain Trucking Company, once they turn 18 and graduate from high school.

“We strive to serve our students not only while enrolled here at the high school, but well beyond into their advanced education and training post-graduation” said Jim Jacobs, Superintendent for North Franklin School District. “We know how life-changing it can be for our students and their families to create opportunities for high-demand, high-wage occupations and this CDL course is just one of many CTE pathways we hope to continue to expand and grow for our community.”◼