Alyssa Roberts

Alyssa Roberts
Grand Junction, CO

Monday, February 23, 2009

Grand Junction schools fuel the economy

While the economy began to struggle in 2008, the demand for commercial drivers didn’t slow down.
The number of commercial driver’s licenses issued in Colorado during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, was 44,436. During fiscal 2008, 52,902 were issued, according to Colorado Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch.
People interested in obtaining a CDL can study with materials published by the Department of Motor Vehicles and available at driver’s license offices for free. Manuals also are available at www.colorado.gov.
There are multiple schools in the Grand Valley that offer courses for obtaining a CDL.
5 Star CDL Professional Training, 2591 B 3/4 Road, offers courses that last five to eight weeks. Graduates who pass their tests can expect to earn $40,000 a year, said director LeRoy Arguello.
About half of his graduates work locally. Others drive national routes, which have them on the road for weeks at a time.
Arguello has contacts with national driving firms that will hire his students right out of school. He said most of his students come to the school for a change in careers. “For me, it was basically, the CDL is like a piece of gold, your opportunities,” Henderson said. “Whether it’s from a boat, train or plane, it’s gotta come in on a truck.”
Henderson left an 18-year career in management to get his CDL. He took a 130-hour course at 5 Star, spending time in the classroom and behind the wheel.
“We are very busy and have a good reputation going,” Arguello said. “We haven’t slowed down yet.”

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