As the trucking industry faces a national shortage of qualified drivers, Central Technology Center is meeting the demand with a statewide program designed to prepare safe, job-ready drivers in just 28 days.

According to the American Trucking Associations, the United States was short approximately 80,000 drivers in 2021, with projections that the gap could surpass 160,000 by 2030. Nearly 80 percent of all goods in the U.S. are delivered by truck, making drivers an essential part of everyday life.

“Everything you use is touched by a truck,” said John Thorpe, director of Truck Driver Training at Central Tech. “From groceries to fuel to medical supplies, the need for drivers is constant. And we are here to make sure Oklahoma is prepared.”

Central Tech’s Class A CDL training program operates at 16 locations across Oklahoma through partnerships with technology centers in cities from Woodward to Idabel and Ponca City to Oklahoma City. Students receive more than 60 hours of hands-on drive time and are trained to operate safely and professionally before entering the workforce.

“We don’t just teach people how to pass the CDL exam,” said Thorpe. “We train them to become professional drivers who are safe, skilled, and ready to go to work. That is why we have a 99 percent job placement rate.”

The program has grown significantly in recent years. Central Tech trained 382 drivers in fiscal year 2023 and 521 in 2024. That number is projected to rise to 650 for 2025, with goals of reaching 750 graduates in 2026 and 900 in 2027.

With tuition now reduced from $4,800 to $4,300, Central Tech is working to make training more accessible for individuals ready to start a new career. The program also provides student housing in Drumright and Enid, removing even more barriers to enrollment.

“Whether someone is starting fresh, changing careers, or coming back to the workforce, we want to make it possible,” Thorpe said. “There is a real need, and we are proud to be part of the solution.”