Hays Post

Several area agencies are cooperating with NCK-Tech to offer a free commercial driver’s license course in Hays for qualifying candidates.

The course will be Oct. 8 and 9.

You must be 18 years old or older; have a clean driving record; be able to pass a Kansas Department of Transportation physical and drug test; and commit to a 30-hour course.

The course will include in-class as well as hands-on driving experience.

The application deadline for the course is Monday, Oct. 1. Applications will be taken at the KANSASWORKS Hays Office, 332 E. Eighth St. For more information, call 785-625-5654.

The course is a cooperative effort of NCK-Tech, KANSASWORKS, Grow Hays and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The foundation provided a $200,000 grant to Grow Hays to offer this and other training programs to fill gaps in the local workforce.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated the median pay for drivers nationally was $42,480 per year in 2017.

A recent American Trucking Associations report said more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the U.S. are moved by truck, and the industry needs to hire almost 900,000 more drivers to meet rising demand.