In 2011, after five years of retirement, James decided to rejoin the job force so he could afford increasing medical costs and take care of his family. Eager to get hired in the transportation industry, he enrolled in YWCA St. Paul’s Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program.
The first part of the program was facilitated at YW, where James completed practice tests online in preparation for the second stage of training at Interstate Truck Driving School (ITDS). After weeks of hard work both in the computer lab and in the driver’s seat, James received his Class B CDL—and soon after, landed a job.
Today, James works as a bus driver for a Twin Cities transportation company and is excited about the doors his new credential has opened for him. “Without this program, I could never have gotten my Class B license,” he said. “I’m so thankful!”