Halifax Community College and the HCC JobLink Center hosted the NC Truck Driver Training School recently at the HCC campus in Weldon. The North Carolina Trucking Association and Johnston Community College sponsored the school. Johnston Community College’s school is recognized as one of the best truck driving schools in the nation.

"Class # 474" completed the eight-week stint of intensive classroom and driving experiences and 17 class members received certificates of completion. To satisfy rigorous course requirements and get in all of the needed instruction, students started out in the mornings at 7:00 a.m. and were either in the classroom or on the road in big rigs until 6:00 p.m. each day.

Johnston Community College has provided truck driver training since 1949. "Drivers are often hired on the spot after they complete the course because of the school’s reputation nationwide for quality training," said lead instructor, Don Stanley. "These folks will know how to handle almost any driving situation in various kinds of weather when they leave here," he continued. The roving site course involves a rigid schedule of classroom work with a generous number of hours allotted to behind-the-wheel experience.

A graduation ceremony was held at Trigger’s Restaurant on the last day of class. Trooper D. B. Simmons of the NC Highway Patrol made appropriate closing remarks at the breakfast graduation ceremony. One female, Priscilla Johnson, completed the course.