FleetForce Truck Driving School Now Open in Venice, Florida

Florida’s fastest-growing CDL school offers tuition-free pre-hire program

FleetForce Truck Driving School announced the opening of its newest training facility in Venice, Florida, as the company continues to meet the demand for new truck drivers nationwide.

Students enrolling in the CDL school can attend tuition-free through a unique pre-hire program — a collaboration between FleetForce, Florida Trucking Association and State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Trucking companies that are FTA members pay the tuition costs up front, with an agreement to hire the student once they complete the course and receive their CDL.

“Truck drivers continue to retire faster than the industry can replace them, which essentially guarantees our students a job once they finish the program,” said Tra Williams, president and CEO of FleetForce. “For many potential new drivers, however, the cost of getting their CDL keeps them from entering the industry. This program allows students to attend tuition-free and leave with a job offer in hand.”

The Venice location is on the campus of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, and is the second program launched in collaboration with the college. This is the company’s fourth location in Florida — with multiple new sites scheduled to open around the state over the next year.

“Workforce training and industry credentials remain a high priority for the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota,” said Dr. Todd Fritch, executive vice president and provost of State College of Florida. “This public-private collaboration allows us the opportunity to address the workforce needs of our region and state. Since the program launched in November, more than 200 individuals have earned their commercial licenses through FleetForce at our Bradenton campus. The expansion to our Venice campus will double the capacity rate while also providing a training opportunity closer to home for south county residents.”

The tuition-free program is available at all FleetForce locations and has been successful in recruiting more students into the trucking industry, with more than 5,000 aspiring drivers having applied since the program launched last year. Local CDL employers who need drivers or would like to participate in the pre-hire program can contact FleetForce at DriveFleetForce.com.

“We are thrilled to see our partnership with FleetForce continue to grow,” said Alix Miller, president and CEO of Florida Trucking Association. “The incredible response to this program shows how interested people are in such a rewarding career, if accessible. We’re proud to be at the forefront of training the next generation of professional truck drivers.”

Category: Driver Stuff, Featured, General Update, News, Safety, Training