Sowela offering free CDL training in September

Sowela’s Office of Workforce Solutions offers a 7-week CDL Training program, with class beginning Monday, Sept. 23. Thanks to a generous grant, tuition for the September course has been waived. Spots are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis. The Class A license training program is a comprehensive 245-hour classroom and behind-the-wheel program. The curriculum covers Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations, pre-trip inspection, backing pad skills, and on-the-road skills. Students meet Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sowela’s Lake Charles campus. State-approved examiners administer the final skills test necessary to receive a state license. Completers who obtain their state license are qualified to drive tractor-trailers, dump trucks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, tanker trucks, and flatbed trucks. Sowela also offers a monthly three-day online permit prep course. The class meets from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. Students learn about CDL rules and regulations, and experienced instructors guide them through the CDL manual. The prep course is free and sponsored by the Louisiana Trucking Research and Education Council and the LMTA Foundation. To learn more or register, visit www.sowela.edu/cdl . If you have questions, contact SOWELA’s Office of Workforce Solutions at workforce@sowela.edu .