Commercial Truck Driving

Program Information

Classes enroll year round at both locations. 

Poplarville Class

PRCC Poplarville Campus
(601) 403-1113
rejackson@prcc.edu

Hattiesburg Class

Woodall Center
(601) 554-4646
slclark@prcc.edu

Brief Description of Program:

Truck Driving is a 6 week instructional program that prepares individuals to drive trucks and other commercial vehicles. Instruction includes operating diesel powered vehicles, loading and unloading cargo, reporting delays or accidents on the road, verifying loads against shipping records, and maintaining necessary records. Applicants will earn a Certificate of Completion from workforce training. 

Essential requirements of a person in this career field:

Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. States have the right to refuse to issue a CDL to anyone who has had a CDL suspended by another state. Drivers can get endorsements to their CDL that show their ability to drive a specialized type of vehicle.
Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check.

Possible careers in this program:

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity—that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—exceeding 26,000 pounds. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.

What a student can expect from a career in this field:

What a student can expect from a career in this field:Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following:

  • Drive long distances
  • Report to a dispatcher any incidents encountered on the road
  • Follow all applicable traffic laws
  • Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers
  • Inspect their trailers before and after the trip, and record any defects they find
  • Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
  • Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
  • Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order

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Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.