FOLEY – More Foley employees will start training in July to be certified to operate commercial vehicles under a partnership between the city and other agencies.
The city entered into a partnership with the Southwest Alabama Partnership for Training and Development and the Alabama Career Center to provide Class A commercial driver’s license training and certification for some Foley employees.
About 12 employees are expected to take part in the training, which is scheduled to begin July 10.
Under Alabama law, a driver who operates a combination vehicle weighing more than 26,001 pounds that can pull a trailer weighing more than 10,000 pounds must have a Class A CDL.
The Foley City Council voted Monday, June 19, to approve a $3,700-funds transfer from the Street Department to Human Resources to allow the city to rent a truck from Bishop State Community College to allow the employees to take the class. The program qualifies for reimbursement of $13,000 for employees to receive their Class A CDL License through Bishop State.
This will be the second time the city has used the grant opportunity. In April, 11 Foley employees completed the program and received their Class A CDL’s.
The city is also working with Coastal Alabama Workforce on Class B CDL licenses for our employees. A Class B CDL is required for any driver operating a vehicle that weighs more than 26,001 pounds that can pull a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds.
Foley has sent 10 employees through that program at no cost to the city. Currently, four or five employees are scheduled to begin Class B CDL training in July.