NICEVILLE, FL -- Florida's governor says the state needs more truckers.
The governor visited Northwest Florida State College to announce what his office calls a "major expansion" of commercial drivers license training. He's awarding more than eight million dollars to five state colleges to add or expand programs. Those include Broward College, Daytona State College, Northwest Florida State College, and Valencia College. There is also a half-million dollar award fund from the Department of Economic Opportunity to suport tuition costs associated with these programs. The change will allow state colleges (formerly community colleges) to train more than three thousand students every year.
DeSantis says truckers make more than the national average, and named at least one company starting truckers at six-figure salaries.
There have been concerns expressed about self-driving technologies reducing the number of trucking jobs. The governor has signed legislation promoting self-driving technology. Thursday in Niceville, DeSantis insisted that there's a lot of demand for traditional skilled trades.
Governor DeSantis also announced almost $12 million going to promote or expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in Florida.
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