IOLA, Kan. — Allen Community College has been awarded a $380,000 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation to support the launch of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program aimed at addressing critical transportation workforce shortages across Kansas.
“This grant is an investment in both our students and the communities we serve,” said Lyvier L. Leffler, president of Allen Community College. “Transportation is a critical part of the economy, and this program will create opportunities for students while helping meet an important workforce need within our region and beyond.”
The new program, supported in part by a 2026 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation, is being developed to provide accessible, workforce-focused training that prepares students for careers in the transportation industry while helping employers address an ongoing shortage of qualified commercial drivers.
A portion of the grant funding will be used to purchase two 2023 Kenworth T680 tractors that will serve as primary training vehicles for students enrolled in the program. The addition of industry-standard equipment will allow students to gain hands-on experience operating the same type of trucks commonly used throughout the transportation industry.
“It is important to provide modern equipment in CDL training,” said Dante Powell II, director of Allen Community College’s CDL program. “These trucks will allow students to develop real-world driving skills while training on equipment their employers are likely to use every day.”
Demand for CDL-qualified truck drivers is supported by national labor-market data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 214,500 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers each year, on average, from 2025 through 2035. Employment in the occupation is projected to grow 4% during that period, with many openings resulting from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
At the state level, the Kansas Department of Labor classifies heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers as a “bright outlook, high-growth occupation statewide,” with the occupation specifically requiring a commercial driver’s license.
Additional details regarding enrollment, training schedules and program implementation are available at www.allencc.edu.
Allen Community College provides quality educational and support services in an atmosphere that is caring, safe and conducive to learning.
