TBR and Tennessee Department of Transportation announce partnership agreement to expand trucking and welding training for state’s workforce
TBR - The College System of Tennessee today announced a three-year partnership agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to expand access to high-quality commercial driver license (CDL) and welding programs for TDOT employees.
Through an $850,000 investment to be made by TDOT over the next 2.5 years, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) locations in all four TDOT regions will offer industry recognized CDL and welding courses. These are designed to strengthen the state’s existing workforce pipelines in efforts to meet Tennessee’s emerging infrastructure needs.
“We are grateful to Commissioner Reid and his team for their partnership and significant investment into these two critical programs provided by our technical colleges,” said Dr. Flora W. Tydings, Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) chancellor. “This agreement will help TDOT maximize efficiencies by preparing a highly skilled workforce, which will ensure Tennessee continues to meet its emerging and long-term infrastructure demands.”
Funding provided by TDOT will assist TCATs in covering the cost of instructional supplies at campus locations offering these courses.
"Training and education are the keys to unlocking potential and equipping individuals with the tools needed to innovate and excel in an ever-changing world,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. “This collaboration with the College System of Tennessee supports our commitment to improving project delivery, developing our staff, and modernizing our systems. This program strengthens the technical foundation we need for TDOT to effectively deliver infrastructure and innovation that will stand the test of time. Thank you to TBR for working with us to deliver this meaningful program.”
TDOT will identify and enroll eligible employees, coordinate with regional TCATs regarding class schedules and ensure all program prerequisites are met to maximize employee success and training capacity. The partnership agreement remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2028.
The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 23 colleges of applied technology, and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 170,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.