Apprenticeship program sets careers for students

– Posted on October 7, 2020Posted in: News

Samuel Carlson  

Reporter 

Crowder College is partnered up with CEI for the apprenticeship program for our future truck drivers. “The apprenticeship is a documented program not only with Crowder but also with CEI,” said Darrin Pfeifly, director of transport. “Meaning that there are checks and balances to help assure that students are trained on certain things and that CEI is reviewing and following up on these items over the next year to help students succeed in the industry.”  

Crowder College is in Neosho, Mo being the only certified apprenticeship for truck driving in the state of Missouri. The process of the apprenticeship through Crowder is having hard work and commitment. 

 “The initial training at Crowder is a five-week 200-hundred-hour program. The follow-up to complete all aspects of the apprenticeship takes about 13 months for the student to receive completion certification of completing all the requirements from the Department of Labor,” Phiefly stated.  

Being a family owned business, CEI is a transportation trucking business that stands for Certified Express, Inc. CEI has been running since 2003 and currently operates 150 power units. Located in Neosho, Mo.  

“CEI’s decision to start taking students was started with the apprenticeship to make sure they were taking the best possible students.” stated Pfeifly. 

Brent Blair, Marc Whitehead, and Josh Porter all completed the apprenticeship program while being paid employees at CEI for the past 13 months. “It is a good program because the employer is involved in the students training and is doing way more than what most any company is doing to training help their students succeed.” Phiefly stated. 

“It’s a good career and seeing the country is really fun but being gone is really tough,” said Caleb Sikes, instructor for Crowder College. “However, you can make $45,000 to $50,000 in the first year.”  

The apprenticeship program is all year round. With being a government program, it could change at any time.  Come to Crowder and get your training to become a future truck driver.