Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College would like to see more of its students go westbound and down across the Gap to its Petersburg facility. Last week, it showed off how new technology will elevate its program to help those interested to prepare to test for a commercial drivers’ license.
Invitations went out to all regional counties to come to Petersburg to learn about the CDL training and other programs, while also enjoying networking opportunities and three delicious tables of food and other refreshments provided by Cheetah B’s.
Attendees filed into the massive space used by EWVCTC for different programs, such as automotive and agriculture related classes and training.
Front and center sat a set of simulators. Attendees were invited to sit down and try to operate simulated semis in various conditions.
Eddie Mullenax explained that the CDL class “starts them out on these things.” He explained that they can mimic a wide range of conditions and challenges.
“It puts them in all kinds of different scenarios,” he shared. These can include driving in different environments, including cities, deserts, mountains, and
more. The simulator can also help to train students in the use of any configuration of shifting and place them in road conditions from highways to gravel and dirt inclines.
“We can take somebody who walks in off the street, get them on it within a week, then move them to the real truck,” Mullenax stated.
Although men make up the majority of those who have passed through the program, Mullenax stated proudly that three women had also passed the course.
The goal, he shared is “teach them what they need to know to get their CDL,” but more importantly, instil the proper values. Mullenax said they train students to “do it safely because safety never takes a vacation” and “do it legally, teach them to do the right thing the right way.”
Those who pass the course and get their license, he recommends that they work for a larger firm for two years. That establishes a pattern of safe driving that will help them if they would prefer to work for smaller companies or independently. Once a career driver passes that milestone, they could find opportunities that could pay up to six figures in salary.
“It’s as close as we can get without tearing stuff up or killing somebody,” Mullenax said about how close the simulators are to a real-life driving experience.
Lauren Arbaugh, Workforce Education Program Coordinator, said “students have been using them for 18 months. The feedback has been fantastic.”
Fourteen such simulators were distributed by the State of West Virginia to six community and technical colleges to encourage expansion of the truck driving and heavy equipment operating workforce. “There is a shortage of drivers,” Mullenax stated, then added “a clean driving record and a CDL can help them write their own meal ticket.”
Faculty from other workforce and academic programs also shared details about benefits to students. Isaiah Smith trained in wind energy technology programs at EWVCTC, then returned as an instructor.
That program started around 12 years ago when wind turbine projects started to emerge in Tucker, Mineral, and Grant counties, then later on in Maryland.
Smith explained that in recent years that EWVCTC has shifted its policy on workforce development. Under the previous president, often workforce and academic programs were offered separately. Now, students are urged to wed workforce training with academic studies that can complement their real world opportunities.
One can get a job with a certification, Smith said, then earn an associates if and when the individual wants to receive promotion or work more in-depth in the field.
Dave Miller, who teaches in the agriculture programs, added that he encourages students to use “different ways to combine workforce training and academics.” He said that an associates in a field that teaches business can help, for example, a CDL license holder, to “go into business for yourself.”
He then pointed out different partnerships that agriculture programs at EWVCTC had forged in the area, including Freedom Ag and Energy. They worked with the college to support a program that puts students to work learning to weld and assemble fence racks. These can be put together in areas such as livestock show barns to keep animals and attendees both separate and safe.
Miller said FAE “has been great to work with. It’s a great back and forth relationship.”
Another component of the agriculture education program that was showcased was 3D printing. Miller pointed out how the 3D printer in operation throughout the evening, could replicate animal parts. He showed a set of pigs ears produced from materials “you can get at Wal Mart.”
Students can practice different tasks on them, such as suturing and putting in tags. When done, the used false parts can be melted back down and reused.
After the ribbon cutting, Arbaugh spoke about the upcoming retirement of Mullenax and talked of his value as an instructor.
He replied “it’s been fun; it’s been rewarding; it’s been challenging; it’s been stressful.”
A cake brought to celebrate his retirement was then cut.
