CDL Class B vehicle training course offered at no cost* to qualified candidates
PALATINE, IL – Pace Bus and Harper College are pleased to announce their partnership to provide a free CDL Class “B” commercial driver’s license permit course for the next generation of professional bus operators. Pace has teamed up with Harper College to offer a customized two-week course to assist qualified applicants in obtaining their CDL permit. To remove financial barriers for students to actively pursue and complete the program, Pace will cover the costs of tuition, training, books, fees, and other expenses associated with the program.
On Wednesday, September 28, Harper College will host a pre-hire event for job seekers to meet with Pace staff. During the 3-hour event, which begins at 6pm, applicants will complete a screening process which includes application completion, an assessment questionnaire, and a background check. All candidates must bring a valid Illinois driver’s license and a DMV or Secretary of State Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) (also called Driving Record Abstracts in Illinois) with no more than two infractions or tickets in the last five years
Assessment results will be available 2-4 days after the event, at which time candidates will be required to complete an Illinois Department of Transportation physical and drug screening. Pace will cover the cost of these screenings. Candidates who pass these screenings will be enrolled in a training course that will take place Monday-Friday, October 17-28, from 9am-3pm at Harper College (1200 West Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL, 60067).
“We offer a path to success and careers for people who are passionate about public service. Becoming a Pace bus operator can lead to further advancement with opportunities to move into dispatch, safety, and administrative positions,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
“Harper College is committed to being a solution provider and meeting the talent needs of employers. We are excited this partnership with Pace will help build a pipeline of bus operators and positively impact transportation services in our communities,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper College President.
Those seeking employment can learn more at PaceBus.com/careers.
* Candidates are responsible for the cost of the MVR, which is $12.
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Pace Suburban Bus safely and efficiently moves people to work, school, and other regional destinations with its family of public transportation services. Pace offers affordable and environmentally responsible transit options for the residents of 272 municipalities in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. The backbone of Chicago's suburbs, Pace serves tens of thousands of daily riders. One of the largest bus services in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles, an area nearly the size of the state of Connecticut and about 15 times the size of the City of Chicago. Pace's innovative approach to public transportation gives the agency a national reputation as an industry leader.
Harper College prepares students for rewarding careers and for transfer to four-year colleges and universities through associate degree and certificate programs, workforce training, professional development, community education classes, accelerated degree options for adults and developmental education programs. Named one of the top 25 community colleges in the U.S. by the Aspen Institute, Harper serves approximately 30,000 credit and non-credit students annually in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. Harper is a national leader in workforce solutions, equipping students to thrive in emerging and high-demand industries while maintaining a legacy of high-quality education that has reinforced the bond between the college and its community for more than 50 years.
