KILGORE, Texas (KETK) – With a nationwide shortage of truck drivers, Kilgore College is working to fill the gap by opening a new training facility that focuses on safety in training.

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Kilgore College has been training truck drivers on campus since 2010. Due to increasing demand, the program is now being expanded. At the opening ceremony, the college announced alarming statistics that the driver shortage nationwide has now exceeded 60,000.

According to the American Journal of Transportation By 2030, there will be a shortage of 160,000 drivers. According to the magazine, several factors are responsible for the shortage, including high demand for truck drivers, a retiring workforce and a lack of new drivers.

Elizabeth Leamon, an instructor on the program, said the cause is stricter industry-wide regulations as authorities become more rigorous about drivers’ educational backgrounds.

“Safety, safety, safety, it’s not just about a driver, it’s about a safe driver. It’s about one that has been properly trained before they go to work,” Leamon said. “A lot of companies look at how many hours you’ve spent behind the wheel and what training you’ve done. And some of these people who go to regular training schools may not be accredited.”

During the grand opening, Kilgore College officially opened the new educational institute that could offer new opportunities to future students.

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“We hope to expand this program to 250 to 300 students per year to meet the needs of local businesses,” said D’Wayne Shaw. “We have everything from a regular classroom to a phenomenal race track around the outside to simulate most of the things they’ll see on the road.”

With the goal that these new facilities would prepare future students for whatever the winding roads would offer them.

“To make sure we have the safest drivers for your family and my family,” Shaw said. “We want to make sure that everyone who is operating these necessary but very large vehicles is doing so in the safest manner possible.”

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