HAMILTON, Mich. — Some West Michigan students are getting help receiving their Commercial Driver's License while they're still in high school. It's all thanks to a new program introduced this spring to Hamilton Community Schools (HCS).
"You know, in three weeks, they're not only going to graduate with their high school diploma, but also with their commercial driver's license" said Hamilton High School learning coordinator, Ashley Meyer.
College isn't for everyone. That's why Hamilton Community Schools created a new program to help students explore different career opportunities. After seeing the need for truck drivers in their community, HCS decided to partner with a truck driver training school to start the program—allowing students to obtain their commercial drivers license before they graduate.
Seniors, Gabe Mast and Max Brink say getting their CDL is an alternative to going to college.
"I feel like CDL is really important for our community, because not everyone goes to college. There's there's a lot of farmers back in Hamilton. CDL's are very useful. I mean, they need they need trucks to haul all their things. CDL's can be used, especially in our community a lot" said Gabe Mast, Hamilton Senior High School student.
The school said there is a demand for truck drivers as the truck driving industry is constantly expanding.
"We know that there's the need for commercial driver's licenses for truck drivers, for people that have their CDL for the job that they need. And so we started investigating to see first what the need was in the community, how we might work it into a student schedule, how we might pay for it, all of those different pieces. That was sort of our background information before we even brought it to our students" said Meyer.
The president of the Truck Driver Training company said the average person doesn't think about getting their CDL until the age of 31. He said seniors, Gabe Mast and Max Brink, are being proactive by thinking ahead for their future.
"And it does take special individuals to get into this industry. And with these two young men doing it so quick, prior to graduation, they're really setting themselves up for the future with quick success. A lot of difference. Companies within the transportation industry require CDL. So whether it's from the excavating world to be in a tractor trailer driver, they're setting themselves up to a really good career at such a young age" said Baareman.
The school said Hamilton High School will also soon add a Tech Education course to the curriculum. They hope to continue to add opportunities for students to explore post-secondary options.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.