The Columbia Job Center has partnered with Emery Sapp to provide paid training opportunities and job placement for those desiring to receive their CDL and become truck drivers. Missouri has experienced a driver shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and poor retention rates.
During the apprenticeship, participants will receive a competitive wage of $22/hr as they undergo comprehensive training in Columbia, Mo. The training encompasses all aspects of water tanker operations and ensures that apprentices develop the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.
Upon completing the program, apprentices will be rewarded with a Class A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) with a tanker endorsement, paving the way for a fulfilling full-time employment opportunity with Emery Sapp. The program offers attractive compensation for successful candidates with a starting wage of $27/hr, including a daily per-diem based on location.
To qualify for the Water Tanker Driver Apprenticeship program, candidates must live within driving distance of Columbia and be available to travel out of state for work assignments. Due to the nature of the role, overnight stays throughout the week and potentially longer stays on-site may be required.
Emery Sapp encourages applicants to possess a CDL permit, although it is not mandatory. Candidates must also pass a comprehensive DOT (Department of Transportation) background check and drug screening to ensure compliance with industry safety standards.
For more information about the Water Tanker Driver Apprenticeship program and to determine eligibility, visit cwdregion.com/emery.
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Emery Sapp is a 100% employee-owned multi-faceted contracting company who thrives on delivering complex heavy civil projects. Since 1972 ESS has grown into a team of more than 1,200 employee-owners that are experts in excavation, grading, underground utilities, bridge construction, asphalt paving and concrete paving.
CDL training rates can cost upwards of over $4,000, adding a barrier to job seekers who wish to pursue truck driving as a career pathway. The Columbia Job Center seeks to remove that barrier thanks to WIOA (Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act) funding. WIOA is designed to strengthen and improve the nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.
“There is an extremely high demand for both over-the-road and local truck drivers,” said Central Workforce Development Region Communications Coordinator, Sundi Jo Graham. “We’re doing everything we can to help remove the barrier to employment for job seekers who may not be able to afford training, as well as provide employers with ready and willing team members who play an important role in keeping our economy moving in the right direction.”
The apprenticeship model is leading the way in preparing American workers to compete in today’s economy. Due to direct employer involvement in the educational process, apprenticeship programs keep pace with advancing technologies and innovations in training and talent management.
Missouri currently ranks third in the nation for completed apprenticeships, fourth in the nation for new apprentices, and sixth for active apprentices. Missouri ranks in the top 10 in the nation across four out of five categories for Registered Apprenticeships.
Other services are available at the Columbia Job Center for both employers and job seekers. Employer services include talent search assistance through the MoJobs database, the ability to reach out to UI recipients, retention assistance, labor market information, ACT Workkeys and NCRC testing, hiring incentives, and veterans services. Job seeker services include job search assistance, free resource computers, career and training services, workshops, skill assessments, work-based learning, and more.
The work done to assist the communities of mid-Missouri is a collective effort of the Central Ozarks Private Industry Council (COPIC), the Office of Workforce Development, and the Central Workforce Development Board, along with numerous community partners. Services are provided through four comprehensive Job Centers, four satellite locations and an administrative office.
To see if you qualify for the Apprenticeship Program, visit cwdregion.com/emery.