ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — College of The Albemarle (COA) is pleased to reaffirm the stability and compliance of its truck driving program following recent national reports about federal investigations involving training providers nationwide. While many programs are being reviewed for issues related to curriculum, testing practices and certification, COA’s program is fully compliant with federal regulations and continues to operate on a regular schedule.
Since opening, the COA truck driving program has enrolled 211 students. A total of 192 students have successfully completed the program and earned a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which reflects a 91 percent completion rate. These outcomes demonstrate the college’s consistent focus on strong instruction, meaningful training time and federal compliance.
“Our priority is to provide reliable, high-quality training that prepares individuals for careers in commercial driving,” said COA President Jack Bagwell. “We appreciate the trust our students and partners place in us and remain committed to meeting the standards that support that trust.”
COA Truck Driving Photo (l-r): Kayla Turner, Student; William Swain, Instructor; Stacey Colson, Instructor; Alvin Boone, Student
The program operates Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with rolling enrollment to meet ongoing workforce needs. COA maintains smaller class sizes along with a fleet of 11 commercial vehicles, giving students significant time behind the wheel throughout their training. The college offers several training options, including Class A, Class B with passenger endorsement, a Bridge Class from B to A, a refresher course and an agriculture exempt course. The college was recently approved to offer the Workforce Continuing Education Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Pathway for high school seniors in its service area and recently celebrated its first high school graduate from Gates County.
COA maintains compliance through daily review of federal information, regular communication with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) CDL Compliance Unit and multiple annual audits for both completed examination records and live examinations. The program is supported by instructors with more than 150 years of combined industry experience, reinforcing a learning environment centered on safety, consistency and responsible instruction.
Scholarships are available to support students entering the program. For more information, individuals may call 252-335-0821, ext. 2250.
“Our communities depend on qualified commercial drivers,” Bagwell said. “COA is committed to offering training that supports our students and strengthens the workforce throughout our region.”
For more information or media inquiries, please contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA director of communications and marketing, at 252-335-0821, ext. 2420, or [email protected].