Meeting Workforce Demands

Expansion of Regional Transportation Training Center Addresses Critical Truck Driver Shortage

Hawkeye Community College is strengthening its commitment to meeting workforce needs with the nearly 7,500-square-foot expansion of its Regional Transportation Training Center (RTTC).

Originally opened in 2012, the Regional Transportation Training Center features an open driving range with a 26-foot-wide road with inclines and turns. The expansion added an additional 7,500 square feet to the main building, including three classrooms, a second simulation lab, a test proctoring room, a third shop bay with large overhead doors, a student lounge, and faculty offices.

"On average, one person every day earns their CDL from Hawkeye and starts on the road to a new career. Many of our graduates have jobs lined up before they finish," said Dr. Todd Holcomb, president of Hawkeye Community College. "With experienced instructors, a leading-edge curriculum, state-of-the-art technology, and our driving range, Hawkeye is positioned as a leader in transportation training — not only in the Cedar Valley, but across Northeast Iowa."

This project was made possible thanks to a $1 million grant from the State of Iowa to expand commercial driver's license (CDL) training facilities at Iowa community colleges. Iowa Workforce Development lists commercial truck drivers as number 13 on its list of the top 25 in-demand jobs in the state, with 10,000 new drivers needed annually through the year 2032.

"This expansion positions Hawkeye Community College as the leader in the region for this type of training," said Georgia Van Gundy, deputy director of Iowa Workforce Development. "This project is a great example of where community colleges are working with workforce development and businesses around our state to really address those large workforce gaps."

In 2024, Hawkeye served nearly 1,900 individuals through its transportation training programs. Of those participants, 90% earned their licenses, and 98% secured jobs in CDL-related careers. With its expansion, Hawkeye will increase training capacity by 25%, helping the college meet the critical demand for truck drivers.

"This program, at a minimum, has been able to expand to where 225 more students and drivers annually can go through that program," Van Gundy said. "That's huge when you think about the demand we have all across the state."

Learn more about our Driver and Operator Training Programs

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