Army reservist Kaue Costa is turning his military skills into cash. “Instead of staying at home I can just get an education and open up opportunities for me,” Costa said. At 23, Costa sees a need he knows how to fill and is making it his own mission to capitalize by going to truck driving school. He already learned to drive trucks in the military when he joined the reserves during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. “They definitely said they needed more (truck drivers) especially for all the work they do for the country. And with everything shut down they needed stuff to get around and everyone, every company at least definitely realized their worth,” Costa said. At Butler Tech, the raw numbers of drivers needed is bigger than a rig itself. "So, we're at 300,000 long haul drivers now when we need 450,000,” CDL training manager at Butler Tech Tim Reynolds said.A total of 150,000 more drivers are needed on the road. Retirements and a year of not needing as many products delivered slowed the industry to a near halt. Now, getting back in gear to get you that gas and other goods won't happen overnight.“A year ago we wouldn't have to wait on the product which now we're waiting on the product getting to the refinery, getting it processed and turned into gas and getting it to the customer,” Reynolds said.Not to mention more training is needed to drive a hazardous materials truck for things like gas. Thus, prolonging windows for gas deliveries at stations from 24 hours to 48 hours. Drivers are coming down the pike, but we all will have to wait patiently. Butler Tech is having a record year for student applications. “This has been our busiest year. So, we've been here seven years. It's been our busiest year and phones keep ringing off the hook,” Reynolds said.For students like Kaue Costa, he says he's ready to hit the road. “I’m a father to a 5-year-old. Any chance, any skill set I can add to my repertoire, I’m going to do it. If it's going to help me in the future I’m gonna do it,” Costa said. Butler Tech offers a 5-week program to get your commercial driver’s license. One week will be in class and the other four training will be in the truck at practice sites. Reynolds says, right now, most new drivers are leaving school with a job in hand and making a minimum of $50,000 dollars their first year.Butler Tech is also in the process of preparing for new federal guidelines on CDL trainers to make sure the students they are training are more prepared and make the roads even safer.
Army reservist Kaue Costa is turning his military skills into cash.
“Instead of staying at home I can just get an education and open up opportunities for me,” Costa said.
At 23, Costa sees a need he knows how to fill and is making it his own mission to capitalize by going to truck driving school. He already learned to drive trucks in the military when he joined the reserves during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
“They definitely said they needed more (truck drivers) especially for all the work they do for the country. And with everything shut down they needed stuff to get around and everyone, every company at least definitely realized their worth,” Costa said.
At Butler Tech, the raw numbers of drivers needed is bigger than a rig itself.
"So, we're at 300,000 long haul drivers now when we need 450,000,” CDL training manager at Butler Tech Tim Reynolds said.
A total of 150,000 more drivers are needed on the road. Retirements and a year of not needing as many products delivered slowed the industry to a near halt. Now, getting back in gear to get you that gas and other goods won't happen overnight.
“A year ago we wouldn't have to wait on the product which now we're waiting on the product getting to the refinery, getting it processed and turned into gas and getting it to the customer,” Reynolds said.
Not to mention more training is needed to drive a hazardous materials truck for things like gas. Thus, prolonging windows for gas deliveries at stations from 24 hours to 48 hours.
Drivers are coming down the pike, but we all will have to wait patiently. Butler Tech is having a record year for student applications.
“This has been our busiest year. So, we've been here seven years. It's been our busiest year and phones keep ringing off the hook,” Reynolds said.
For students like Kaue Costa, he says he's ready to hit the road.
“I’m a father to a 5-year-old. Any chance, any skill set I can add to my repertoire, I’m going to do it. If it's going to help me in the future I’m gonna do it,” Costa said.
Butler Tech offers a 5-week program to get your commercial driver’s license. One week will be in class and the other four training will be in the truck at practice sites. Reynolds says, right now, most new drivers are leaving school with a job in hand and making a minimum of $50,000 dollars their first year.
Butler Tech is also in the process of preparing for new federal guidelines on CDL trainers to make sure the students they are training are more prepared and make the roads even safer.
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