Truck Driving

The Truck Driving Program includes 320 hours of education consisting of classroom and hands-on yard and road training. In addition to driving skills, students learn map reading, trip planning, log keeping, vehicle systems, cargo handling, driving under adverse conditions, defensive driving, and transporting hazardous materials. The mandatory written examination and the driving test must be taken at a designated commercial driver’s license testing center for licensure or permit. Equipment for the driving test will be provided to ECC students. To be commercially licensed intrastate, students must be at least age 18; age 21 for interstate and/or to transport placarded hazardous materials.

Entrance Requirements

Must pass federal Department of Transportation (DOT) “qualifications and disqualifications,” and potential students must meet fill out the following link to receive instructor's consent. 

https://elgin.edu/academics/departments/truck-driving/program-admissions/instructor-consent-request-form/

Program Requirements

Students must possess a valid Illinois drivers license that does not expire in 1.5 years. Students must have a valid ECC student ID.

Special Admission Requirement

The DOT has regulations which govern the use of drugs and alcohol by commercial motor vehicle drivers, and which require Elgin Community College to conduct mandatory drug and alcohol testing of students in the Truck Driving Program at specific times and under specific conditions. These regulations are available in the Advising Center, the Office of Student Life, and the Truck Driving Department.

Forklift Operator Entrance Requirements

The forklift certificate consists of classroom and hands-on instruction in the safe operation of lift trucks. Students will be instructed on safety inspections, balance calculation, safe operation for loading/unloading and movement of lift with and without loads. All instruction will follow training requirements outlined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Students will earn a Forklift Operator Certificate upon completion.

Qualifying students must be a minimum of 18 years of age, in good mental and physical health, be able to lift a minimum of twenty-five pounds unassisted, bend, stretch, sit, and stand for extended periods of time. Must be drug and alcohol free. Operators are not required to hold a state driver's license. Note: many companies may require an operator to be 21 years of age to operate a lift truck.

Basic Vocational 

• Perform required inspections of commercial vehicles.
• Skillfully and safely back up vehicles to minimum standards.
• Skillfully and safely drive commercial tractor-trailer combinations on public roadways.

Forklift Operator

• Describe the purpose and uses of a lift truck
• Perform proper and through per-operational safety inspection
• Demonstrate proper operational safety habits
• Demonstrate the basic operation and controls in lifting, lowering and movement of loads

Truck Driving Owner/Operator - Vocational Specialist

Truck Driving - Basic Vocational Specialist

Certified Forklift Operator - Basic Vocational Specialist

Truck Driving Courses

All BRG courses numbered 100 and above may be applied to the major field and elective requirement for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees.

Completion of BRG 101 Truck Driving I, BRG 201 Truck Driving II, and BRG 202 Truck Driving III will prepare the student to take the necessary exams to obtain a license to operate a tractor trailer.