Heartland Community College Partners with Sysco for CDL ‘Train to Hire’ Program

 

[February 11, 2019] 

A new partnership between Sysco Central Illinois, Heartland Community College, and the Logan County Economic Development Partnership [LCEDP] addresses one of our area’s most pressing workforce development issues -- the recruiting and training of CDL-certified truck drivers.

Many companies face challenges identifying and hiring qualified Class “A” truck drivers. At the same time, Heartland wants to expand its workforce development offerings in Logan County to assist more area businesses and to help students afford their training. With these needs in mind, the Logan County Economic Development Partnership joined with Sysco and Heartland Community College to facilitate the creation of a new CDL Train-to-Hire Program designed to prepare individuals for a job as a Sysco Class A delivery truck driver, following 16 weeks of training.

In the program’s first phase, eligible participants engage in four weeks of training through Heartland’s CDL program, with classes meeting daily, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Participants then take the Illinois DMV Class “A” CDL permit exam. During this phase, participants will interview with Sysco Central Illinois for an available Class A delivery truck driver position.

With a CDL permit in hand, students advance to the program’s second phase, a 12-week apprenticeship at Sysco Central Illinois. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship portion of the CDL Train-to-Hire Program, participants are eligible for a full-time Class A delivery truck driver position at Sysco Central Illinois.

The new CDL Train-to-Hire Program is scheduled to begin in April 2019. Individuals interested in enrolling in the Heartland CDL Train to Hire program may contact Laurie Mueller at 309-268-8179 or [e-mail].

[Bill Thomas, Logan County Economic Development Partnership]