West Shore Community College to offer CDL courses through partnership with Pinnacle Truck Driver Training

West Shore Community College is welcoming Pinnacle Truck Driver Training, a provider of CDL training located in Cadillac, Michigan, to its main campus in Scottville. The two institutions have formed a partnership that will allow West Shore Community College to offer a CDL program that will be facilitated by Pinnacle on WSCC’s campus.

According to an article on West Shore Community College’s website, Scott Ward, who is the president of West Shore Community College, explained the decision to partner with Pinnacle, saying, “The partnership with Pinnacle answers several needs across our region including emergency vehicle training as well as bus driver certification, providing a solution to training and staffing shortages across multiple facets including truck driving. Pinnacle’s high standards and excellent record align with the college’s requirements and mission.”

In order to facilitate the partnership, West Shore Community College will be installing a driving pad on its main campus that will allow students in its CDL program to train behind the wheel. Before students make it behind a real wheel, they will learn the basics on a driving simulator that will be located on campus at the Riemer Regional Public Safety Training Center. The driving pad, which will be located on Amber Road, will be shared with other programs at WSCC that involve learning to drive specific vehicles, such as law enforcement vehicles and ambulance driver training. 

There is currently a shortage of CDL drivers around the country, and West Shore Community College has received inquiries about the availability of such a program. Pinnacle Truck Driver Training is expanding to the west side of the state to assist in training future CDL drivers to help alleviate the shortage, as well.

Tim Baker, who is the founder and president of Pinnacle Truck Driver Training, said, “Pinnacle has helped well over 1,000 students obtain their CDL-A and CDL-B with a 93% pass rate. Any student who is qualified and wants a job, we will help get them one. The collaboration with WSCC came about in a way that aligned with all of our goals. We are excited to expand our training in the area!”

For more information about West Shore Community College, visit the school’s website.