TIONESTA Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) and CNB Wagner Enterprise LLC are partnering to help fulfill the need for more commercial driver’s licensed (CDL) drivers.

Classes for CDL Class A licenses will be held at CNB Wagner’s range located in Forest County at 727 Route 36 in Tionesta. The cost of the program is estimated at $4,625, which includes the cost of the course fees. Additional costs will be associated with obtaining the Class A permit issued through PennDOT.

CNB Wagner’s unique approach to CDL training has a five-part process for learners, which includes completing the online Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Theory Course on students’ own time, passing a physical examination by a healthcare provider, obtaining a CDL permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), completing entry-level driver training at their range, and testing after completing the 40 hours of training time at their range.

‘We have a Monday to Friday training that allows students to test on the final day,’ said Bret Wagner, owner. ‘Our advantage is the unique one-on-one instruction that students get by completing their training with us, as well as taking less time than with other training providers. Students hit the road if they’re able to do so on day one. We also mix up the different trucks, trailers and instructors during the course. This helps assure students are comfortable with different combinations of what they may be driving, and they get unique training from each trainer.’ The one-on-one training also allows each person’s training to be unique for their own specific needs. In other words, CNB’s training is not dictated by a schedule like it is in a group training situation. CNB’s training, pace, style and techniques are tailored for each individual who comes through the program.

NPRC’s Assistant Director of Workforce Development Dawn Hull, said, ‘By providing a more flexible training model, we are expanding access to students who are eager to enter and grow within this essential industry but have been unable to commit to our traditional four-week program — an option we will continue to offer at other locations. Tionesta is an underserved community, and we are excited to establish and cultivate this partnership with CNB Wagner to support workforce development in the immediate region.

‘We are hopeful that this partnership will allow many more drivers to advance their careers,’ Wagner noted.

Financial assistance is available to help students combat the cost, while self-pay is also an option for financing this program. The process for registration includes students registering for the course with NPRC and receiving a registration confirmation letter outlining course dates, location and fees; CNB Wagner sharing the online ELDT training with students via email; the learner completing ELDT training; and finally the student and CNB Wagner scheduling and completing 40 consecutive hours of behind-the-wheel training and testing.

CDL Class A courses with CNB Wagner are eligible for CareerLink funding through Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Workforce Development System. All training courses meet the requirements set forth by the new federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations. Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals are also required. For more information about CDL courses involving NPRC and CNB Wagner, head to https://bit.ly/CDLNPRC.

https://bit.ly/CDLNPRC