John Wood Community College to celebrate 30 years of excellence in truck driver training on Wednesday

QUINCY — John Wood Community College (JWCC) is marking the 30th anniversary of its truck driver training program. Since its establishment in September 1994, the program has trained thousands of professional truck drivers, making an impact on the regional and national transportation industry.

The program will hold an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, with a brief program at 4:30 p.m. at the college’s Workforce Development Center, 2710 N. 42nd. The public is welcome to attend, tour the expanded truck driver training facilities, use the driving simulator and ride along with drivers on the college’s maneuvering range.

The JWCC Truck Driver Training program began under the leadership of Don Hess, who played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum and forging partnerships. Hess now serves as a JWCC trustee and is a national consultant in the field. He was instrumental in securing initial support from Sharkey Transportation, which provided the JWCC TDT program its first home and continued access to space at their facility for over a decade, allowing the program to thrive until its move to the college’s Workforce Development Center (WDC) in 2009.

Upon Hess’s retirement, veteran instructor and professional driver Phil Steinkamp took the wheel as director of the program. Steinkamp has served JWCC’s Truck Driver Training program for more than 25 years and continues instructing courses at the WDC.

“Our truck driver training program has consistently set the standard for excellence in the industry,” JWCC President Bryan Renfro said in a press release. “From the early support of Sharkey Transportation to the ongoing involvement of industry leaders, the program has benefited from strong community and industry backing. We are incredibly proud of the legacy we’ve built over the past 30 years.”

The program continues to maintain the highest standards as a member of the National Association of Publicly Funded Transportation Schools and the Illinois Trucking Association. Multiple transportation firms serve on the program’s advisory council, ensuring relevant and evolving skills are implemented in hands-on training.

Under the current direction of Steinkamp and Chris Koetters, a graduate of the program, JWCC produces drivers ready to meet the demands of the trucking industry. Ninety JWCC students received their Certified Driver License (CDL) last year, and more than 2,000 have been trained since the program’s inception.

The program offers a range of courses designed to fit various schedules and needs. The program includes six-week Class A and Class B CDL courses and specialized endorsements. The next session begins Sept. 23, with classes at the Workforce Development Center.

JWCC’s program is supported by scholarships, advisory council participation and other resources provided by regional trucking companies. These partnerships ensure that graduates are not only job-ready but equipped with the latest industry knowledge and practices.

For more information about the program, visit //www.jwcc.edu/truck or contact Kelly Lewis at 217-641-4371.