Arkansas teen, Jaquize Green, recently got his CDL license while still attending his normal high school schedule. Jaquize made history by being the first in his state to complete the program while still being enrolled in school. The CDL Pilot program, offered by a partnership between a local community college (East Arkansas Community College) and the Forrest City School District, has opened up a window of opportunities for this high school senior and his peers.
With the average income for a household in Arkansas being $25,768, and the average truck driver salary being $47,451, Green is on to a great start, financially. Truck drivers in the past 4 years have seen a significant spike in income with some in the field being able to make six figures or more.
This program is not only great financially for the young emerging truck drivers, but it is also good for the trucking industry. The trucking industry has seen a growing need for more drivers. The FMCSA is set to roll out its own pilot program, in which more drivers at the age of 18 will be able to not only get a CDL License, but also drive on interstate highways. Currently drivers who do not meet the age requirement of 21 can only drive within their state lines or intrastate.
