Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s West Harrison County Center (WHCC) in Long Beach recently marked a milestone with its 300th student successfully passing the Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) exam after completing the center’s Commercial Truck Driving program. Alvin Felts of Moss Point, who completed his exam on October 12, set the record, underscoring the program’s impact since its launch in 2017.

“We’ve averaged about 47 successful CDL graduates each year,” said Kevin Collier, truck driving instructor at MGCCC. “Many students come to our program without any experience in truck driving, and some even choose not to take the exam. To see so many succeed is a powerful indicator of our program’s effectiveness.”

Collier, along with his colleagues James Hilliard and Todd Rupert, leads the college’s longest-running truck driving program, which has since expanded to MGCCC’s George County Center in Lucedale and the Perkinston Campus. The WHCC program is available at no cost to qualifying participants through the Gulf Coast Work Ready Grant.

This comprehensive program doesn’t just teach driving skills; it equips students for career success through courses on resume´ writing, interview preparation, financial literacy, and essential workforce skills like punctuality and preparedness.

“Work Ready training is invaluable for preparing students to thrive in high-demand fields,” said Kelly Parker, dean of the West Harrison County Center. “The grant allows us to help students build not only the technical skills needed for trucking but also the soft skills that make them valuable employees. It’s rewarding to see them come out confident and ready for the industry.”

The CDL exam itself is rigorous, requiring drivers to perform four maneuvers in a massive 35,000 to 40,000-pound 18-wheel truck, which can reach up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. “Backing up the truck and trailer is often the toughest maneuver for students,” said Collier. “They dedicate a lot of time to mastering this skill, along with pre-trip inspections, air brake checks, and other safety practices essential for professional drivers.”

Felts, who completed the program last month, is eager to begin his career. “Truck driving has been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” he shared. “This program was a fantastic opportunity, and I’m so grateful for the training I received. Learning to handle such a large vehicle was daunting at first, and the exam was nerve-racking, but Mr. Collier and the team prepared us exceptionally well. I feel ready and confident to hit the highway and pursue my dream job.”

For more information on the Commercial Truck Driving programs at MGCCC, visit mgccc.edu/ commercial-truck-driving or visit mgccc.edu/gulf-coast-work-ready to find out about other no-cost programs at MGCCC.