Federal funding will pay for commercial driver's license training program in Southeast

Snowplow and bus drivers are exceptionally critical occupations this time of year — but they’re in short supply statewide.

A new Juneau-based program may change that.

The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill recently passed by Congress includes $750,000 for University of Alaska Southeast to establish and operate a commercial driver’s license (CDL) education training program at the UAS Juneau campus.

According to UAS Chancellor Karen Carey, the new program will help fill the many positions for CDL-certified drivers currently vacant across Southeast Alaska.

“We are just really thrilled that we got it — we really need it in Southeast,” she said. “We know it’s a real need here and starting a new program is not cheap — especially a program like this.”

CDL requirements have gotten more difficult to meet recently after additional training requirements were added in February by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Paired with the nationwide worker shortage, many Alaska communities have been left without enough CDL-certified drivers to meet community demand.

According to Katie Koester, director of the City and Borough of Juneau Engineering and Public Works Department, the winter maintenance crew is down four equipment operators — a position which requires a CDL — out of its 25-person street and fleet crew. The Capital Transit bus system — which also requires a CDL — is down six drivers which has resulted in recent route suspensions.

She said often city employees have to travel to the University of Alaska Anchorage for the training to obtain a CDL, which she said can be a burden for the employer and the employees.

“I think that any time we can provide that training close to home is going to be beneficial and more accessible to our employees,” she said.

Carey said the next steps after the funding is allocated will be for UAS to partner with the University of Alaska Anchorage — which already offers a CDL program — and begin the process of hiring instructors.

The bulk of the federal money will go toward hiring at least two certified instructors, along with possibly purchasing a large-scale vehicle like a semi-truck. The program is expected to start up in the fall of 2024.

The program will welcome about 10 to 12 new students in its first semester. The program will be mostly in person, but Carey said there may be opportunities for partial online participation.