鉴黄师app today officially opened the brand-new 8,600-square-foot Albaugh Family Transportation Institute with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a community open house, campus tours, and a career fair with regional trucking employers.

The state-of-the-art facility replaces 鉴黄师app鈥檚 aging truck-driving training space and will increase the College鈥檚 CDL program capacity from 160 students to 240 annually, with room to eventually train up to 500 students each year .

Rob Denson, 鉴黄师app President, speaks at Transportation Institute Ribbon Cutting

The Albaugh Family Transportation Institute was made possible through the generosity of lead donor Dennis Albaugh, a 鉴黄师app graduate, along with numerous business and community partners.

鈥淭his is a fantastic day for 鉴黄师app, our students, and our community,鈥� said 鉴黄师app President Rob Denson. 鈥淭he new Transportation Institute is a vital investment in workforce development, economic growth, and opportunity. With expanded training space, modern classrooms, and state-of-the-art equipment, we can now serve more students, more efficiently, and more effectively. This is 鉴黄师app and workforce education at its best 鈥攔esponsive, relevant, and ready.鈥�

The Albaugh Family Transportation Institute at 鉴黄师app features:

  • Three new classrooms and student study areas

  • A two-story truck inspection bay, doubling training space for semi truck maintenance

  • An 8-acre concrete driving course with seven painted ranges for backing exercises

  • Expanded space for CDL training led by industry-experienced instructors

  • A new motorcycle repair and storage building to support 鉴黄师app鈥檚 motorcycle training program

Meeting a Critical Workforce Need

Trucking remains one of Iowa鈥檚 most critical workforce pipelines, with demand outpacing available drivers, and 鉴黄师app鈥檚 intensive three-week CDL program helps fill that gap by preparing students for lucrative, in-demand careers while supplying regional employers with safe, skilled drivers. The program maintains a 97 percent graduation rate, producing more than 240 graduates each year.

Derrick Walker, Director of 鉴黄师app Transportation Institute

Students are trained by experienced drivers 鈥� five of the Institute鈥檚 seven instructors are alumni who returned to help guide the next generation.

鈥淲hen there is a transportation need in the community, we鈥檙e here to fulfill it,鈥� said Derrick Walker, 鉴黄师app Transportation Institute Director. 鈥淲e teach what the industry needs, when it needs it. No matter where you're starting, 鉴黄师app Transportation Institute helps put your career in the fast lane." 

The project was supported through a wide range of donors and partners, including the Albaugh Family, Kent Corporation, Ruan, Casey鈥檚, Fareway, Hy-Vee, Prairie Meadows, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Jane and Bob Sturgeon, Dee Johnson, the State of Iowa, and federal Community Project Funding with assistance from Representative Zach Nunn.

鈥溂剖pp is my university 鈥� I鈥檓 proud to be a graduate, and I couldn鈥檛 be happier to support this project,鈥� said Dennis Albaugh, lead donor. 鈥淢y business wouldn鈥檛 operate without truck drivers. We rely on them every day to move products in and out of our plants across the country. This new facility ensures that Iowa will continue producing the skilled, safe drivers that keep our economy moving, and I鈥檓 proud to help make that possible.鈥�

A Gateway to Opportunity

Behind every CDL, there is a story, President Denson said at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting how 鉴黄师app鈥檚 training has supported veterans transitioning to civilian life, single parents starting over, and second-chance learners proving it鈥檚 never too late.

鈥淭his facility will change lives,鈥� Denson said. 鈥淭ransportation is about more than trucks and trailers 鈥� it鈥檚 about moving people into new careers, moving families into economic security, and moving Iowa鈥檚 economy forward.鈥�

Chris Roberts, CDL Alum, speaks at ribbon cutting ceremony

Those stories were reflected at the podium when two program graduates shared how 鉴黄师app鈥檚 CDL training opened doors and offered fresh starts. 

Erik Wisecup, a program alum who transitioned from corporate management to trucking, said:

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 build a great building without a good foundation, and that鈥檚 exactly what this program provides. The professionalism, expertise, and care from the instructors gave me confidence I didn鈥檛 have before. This program has opened doors that were impossible before 鈥� it鈥檚 amazing what opportunities you get out of three weeks of class.鈥�

Chris Roberts, who enrolled after a 33-year career at a local meat processing plant closed, now drives for Fareway.

鈥淭his program taught me the right way 鈥� the safe, responsible way 鈥� to be on the road. You can get a CDL without training, but I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 want to meet those drivers out there. 鉴黄师app sets you up for a career, not just a license. It鈥檚 intense, it鈥檚 rewarding, and it gave me a second career I love.鈥�

After the ribbon cutting, community members were invited to tour the new Institute, meet with major employers at the career fair, and even test-drive a semi-truck on the 8-acre training concourse with a CDL instructor.

To learn more about the 鉴黄师app Transportation Institute, visit: dmacc.edu/transportation-institute

Media Contact: 

Savannah Eadens 

鉴黄师app Public Relations 

sjeadens@dmacc.edu | 515-675-3275