A new partnership between Ivy Tech Community College and 160 Driving Academy aims to get more trained truck drivers on the road.

Ivy Tech dedicated the new 160 Driving Academy at its South Bend campus.

“Ivy Tech is proud to partner with 160 Driving Academy to provide CDL training to our community, and employer partners,” said Matt Presley, executive director of career coaching and employer connections for the Ivy Tech South Bend/Elkhart campus. “The need for professional truck drivers in (the South Bend/Elkhart area) is substantial.”

He said the partnership helps meet that demand with safety-focused training that prepares new drivers with the skills and licensure necessary to launch a career.

The 160 Driving Academy in 2022 is expected to train more than 35,000 students across the country through its 130-school system how to safely operate a semi-truck. The academy operates in 43 states and each school is certified and licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Entry Level Driver Training Program.

The academy also works with more than 400 workforce offices across the country to find work for its graduates.

Ivy Tech offers CDL training at several of its campus. Additional information is available on the college’s website, under CDL training.