Ancora Corporate Training to Provide Instruction

Your Eastern Shore Community College is happy to announce its new partnership with Ancora Corporate Training to provide CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) programming to the Eastern Shore community. Ancora is a national educational services provider and brings a broad array of capabilities and services to the Eastern Shore community.

At ESCC CDL classes have been on hold while the transition to Ancora took place, but the new schedule has been finalized.  The first full-time class will begin Monday, August 2, with part-time classes scheduled to start Saturday, August 7. Full-time students will spend their first week in the classroom, before shifting to hands-on learning at the College’s driving range in Exmore.  Part-time students attend class on Saturdays and Sundays, and will spend the first 40 hours in the classroom.  

These classes offer a fast track to a potentially lucrative career. There is an enormous shortage of truck drivers nationwide, leaving companies scrambling to hire qualified workers. 

According to job-hunting site Indeed.com, in the Commonwealth of Virginia alone there are more than 2,500 openings for full-time, entry-level drivers, and the average starting salary for a CDL-A driver in Virginia is $67,000. That figure doesn’t include benefits, bonuses, and tuition reimbursement programs that some employers offer. 

CDL is part of the Virginia Community College System’s FastForward program, which provides significant financial assistance (up to 100%) to Virginia residents. Out-of-state learners may take the CDL class as well, but are not eligible for financial assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

To take the CDL class, students must obtain their CDL Learner’s Permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles, pass both a drug screening and physical examination, and meet several other criteria.  Ancora will pay for the student’s drug screening and physical examination.  

ESCC is partnering with the Virginia DMV to provide remote testing for the CDL learner’s permit on campus. The first testing event is currently scheduled for August 17, at ESCC.  Information about future testing dates will be released as soon as they are confirmed.

Please contact ESCC Workforce Services at 757-789-7979, or workforce@es.vccs.edu for a complete schedule and information on registration and financial assistance.