If you've ever wanted to learn how to drive heavy duty equipment for the construction industry, here is a great opportunity that provides virtually free training and a good chance at getting a job after completing your courses. The Construction Teamsters Training Program is a free training program that teaches interested applicants
how to become expert truck drivers, specializing in several types and
aspects of heavy duty construction equipment. Founded and sponsored by the Teamsters Union, the training program is a link between the public and the construction industry to fill the need for qualified operators of mining and construction equipment.
There are many Class A truck drivers who have never had the
opportunity to be part of the highly-specialized
classification of drivers who are able to load, unload, tie down and haul all of the rolling stock and heavy equipment needed, from one job to another, under all types of conditions. Most so-called "working truck drivers" never trained or upgraded beyond the point of driving a flat rack, bobtail dump truck, truck and pup or transfer truck and trailer. This program
provides the opportunity for anyone to go into a whole new field of trucking or step up to the next level, by learning, for example, how to operate a set of belly dumps, a water truck, water pulls or 3-axle tractors with double or triple semis.
The goal of the training program is to teach safe driving techniques and practices, with special
emphasis on proper attitudes toward safety as
compiled by the composite experiences of the truck driving instructors. The school also points out to trainees the relationship of a driver's actions, attitudes and habits to the cause of accidents. Basically put, anyone can pay to join the union and then get free training. Construction Teamsters members, in good standing, are entitled to train or upgrade on their own time, without pay. The cost of the instruction is paid for by the training program.
The school, which is now currently located in Pomona, California but is preparing to move to a new location in Fontana, offers students Commercial Drivers License training on dump truck, end dump, flatbed truck, and off-road training on rock truck, water truck and water pull. Training is done on a one-to-one (student to instructor) ratio.
Contractors and the Teamsters Union started the school in 1977 as a non-profit organization. The training and upgrading program is governed by a board of trustees comprised of eight people - four from the Contractor's Association and four from the local unions. The Construction Teamsters Training and Upgrading Fund of
Southern California (as it is officially called) is a collectively-bargained,
joint-trusted, labor-management trust put in place to provide quality-trained workers for the heavy duty equipment and construction industries.
Applicants must be at least twenty years old, have (at least) a high school education or similar and be or become a member of the Teamsters Union. A drug test is mandatory and each applicant has to pass a physical examination as required by the
California Department of Motor Vehicles, but no
trucking experience is required. All who wish to train or upgrade do so on their own time, without pay. Participants are trained at their convenience during the day or evening. The average training takes about eight weeks, with approximately 120 hours of road time behind the wheel, depending on the student's individual skills and effort.
Since the purpose of the program is to fill the needs of the construction industry with qualified
drivers and the industry is paying for the training (which typically would cost between $7,500 and $8,000), the chances to get directly hired by a
contractor after passing the program successfully are pretty good. The average starting wage of graduates is $20.85 an hour, and union jobs come with great benefits like health insurance and pension plans. Trainees who pass the program will be issued a certificate and DMV license.
The school's staff of instructors are some of the best construction truckers in Southern California. One of those instructors is Jerry Jones (shown in the photo on the left). Jerry came to the school from the midwest some five years ago. With over 15 years of experience, Jerry has done just about everything in the construction industry. Like Jerry, all of the school's instructors have a minimum of 10 years experience in the construction field, and all are qualified through a special course designed to train them in the proper methods of classroom teaching and road training.
In 1998, Nick Nichols, the training program's director, asked Jerry if he would like to fix up an old KW that the school had purchased in its early days
but wasn't using any more. Being the "old truck nut" he is, Jerry jumped at the chance. Jerry earned the nickname "Dr. Chrome" because he always has a Dr. Pepper soft drink in his hand and he chrome plates everything. He stripped the old Kenworth down to the frame, sanded and cleaned everything, and, with a lot of his own time and a lot of help from people donating parts, put together a really sharp rig that the school can be proud to call their mascot.
Some of the "help" that Jerry got from local companies included Vic Caliva of Caliva's Truck Wash & Polishing in Montebello, who helped him out with the four rear wheels and Steve at Got Shine Big Rig Accessories in Ontario who gave him the shiny tool box and the Renegade 14" visor. Alcoa gave him the two new front wheels and a manufacturer in Boston sent him a couple of new high-back seats. Gold Coast Tire in Los Angeles donated almost $5,000 worth of brand new Bridgestone tires for the truck. Echo Lighting in Idaho donated a light bar, and Stan of Quality Truck Electric re-wired the entire rig for free. Mike McGookin and Lorenzo from Performance
Transport in Chino helped a lot too. Rich Gonzales in Montclair painted the dark blue, white and magenta flames on the fenders and the hood, while Jack Burr of Pasadena hand-painted the Teamsters' logos on the doors. Jerry can't thank these people enough for their kind gifts and donations. Without them, this restore would have never been possible.
The 1978 KW B-Model's original KT 450 engine was taken out and replaced by a Cummins 350, because the big engine was too powerful to teach the students. The truck is still equipped with its original 13-speed tranny. A large set of train horns and a completely new exhaust was also installed, as well as new front springs. The truck was lowered a bit to give it that classic "California Cool" look. Jerry did all of the labor himself, including a complete refurbishing of the interior. The first reward for his efforts came in 2000 when the "old" KW took second prize at the Working Truck Show in Pomona. The following year, at a show in Irwindale, the KW took top honors.
Being the mascot of the school, this old KW, every now and again, gets to be in a parade. The truck makes annual appearances in Labor Day and Christmas parades, and even does an occasional funeral procession (the latter being the only event in which the train horns stay silent). These events are not only a lot of fun (funerals aside), but they help get the word out about the school.
If you would like more information about the Teamsters training program, contact Jerry Jones at (909) 623-0565. Don't let this fantastic opportunity pass you by. Your future is waiting!
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