Governor Pritzker Announces Illinois Investing $2.6M To Expand CDL Training Program

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced a $2.6 million investment to expand truck driver training as the state addresses commercial truck driver shortages.

State Targets Truck Driver Shortage

Illinois is investing millions into workforce development aimed at expanding the Truck Driver Training Program at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) in Litchfield.

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According to the press release, the funding will support infrastructure improvements and create a new training site designed to increase student capacity and reduce lengthy wait times for entry into the program.

State officials say the expansion is critical as supply chain demands continue to increase across Illinois and the Midwest.

Growing Demand Creates Training Bottleneck

Since launching in 1998, LLCC's Truck Driver Training Program has trained more than 4,000 students, with 98.5 percent earning their commercial driver's licenses after graduation.

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Despite the program's success, officials say limited space has created a growing bottleneck, with prospective students currently facing a three-month waitlist before they can begin training.

Truck drivers are a crucial lynchpin of the supply chains that power our economy. With enormous demand for commercial driver’s license holders, Illinois is proudly building a skilled workforce to meet the moment. -J.B. Pritzker, Governor of Illinois

LLCC President Dr. Charlotte Warren said employees across the region continue to report urgent demand for qualified, safety-focused drivers, with many companies actively recruiting students before graduation.

Workforce Development is a Key Illinois Priority

The four-to-six week program combines classroom instruction with hands-on driving experience to prepare students for the Class A CDL certification and endorsements.

State leaders say the expansion reflects Illinois' broader push to strengthen workforce mobility through career and technical education programs, particularly in industries facing persistent labor shortages.