Training is Valued at Nearly $6,000 and Prepares Students for the Louisiana CDL Exam
(Lake Charles, Louisiana – March 17, 2023)
SOWELA Technical Community College’s Office of Workforce Solutions is now registering for a free Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training in partnership with Venture Global LNG. Students must be Calcasieu Parish residents to qualify for the free training, which will be held at SOWELA’s Main Campus in Lake Charles, LA.
The Class A license training program is a comprehensive 245-hour classroom and behind-the-wheel program. Training covers Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations, pre-trip inspection, backing pad skills, and on-the-road skills. SOWELA also offers a free online CDL permit course to those who want to take the training but do not have their permit.
The final skills test necessary to receive a state license is administered by state-approved examiners. Completers who obtain their state license are qualified to drive tractor-trailers, dump trucks, tow trucks, delivery trucks, tanker trucks, and flatbed trucks.
Tractor-trailer truck drivers are four-star jobs according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission based on salary, job outlook and educational requirements. Experienced truck drivers can earn more than $28/hour and are in-demand nationally.
For more information or to register for the free CDL training class, call (337) 421-6560 or email workforce@sowela.edu.
Non-Calcasieu Parish residents interested in CDL training can register for the Summer 2023 CDL training session, which costs $5,950. Scholarships and financial assistance are available for those who qualify.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, online, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 85 years and has locations in Jennings, Lake Charles, Leesville and Oakdale, Louisiana.