Washington County grads enter CDL pipeline for fast-track trucking jobs

Ten recent Washington County high school graduates are midway through a CDL training program in Hillsboro that has already put them on track for Class A licenses and six-figure career paths. Northwest Regional ESD says the pilot is designed to connect students to high-demand jobs, with Columbia County expansion planned for the 2026-27 school year.

Why it matters: - The Northwest Regional Education Service District is using a youth CDL pilot to move recent graduates into a high-demand, high-wage field without a four-year degree. - First-year CDL drivers in Oregon can expect to earn between $50,000 and $75,000, with career pathways that can lead to stronger long-term earnings. - The program gives students a direct route from high school to licensed work in trucking, utilities and related industries.

What happened: - Ten Washington County high school graduates are midway through hands-on CDL training at Elite Truck School in Hillsboro, Oregon. - The cohort represents Aloha, Banks, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Glencoe, Mountainside and Sherwood high schools. - Students completed classroom training, earned Commercial Learner's Permits and moved into the school’s skills training on July 13. - Final CDL testing began July 27. - Elite Truck School hosted a career fair on July 23 for the graduating cohort.

The details: - The cohort includes Daniel Cruz, Lezlye Rosas Florida, Mateo Salcedo Hernandez, Brayden Hamel, Oscar Sanchez, Jackson King, Samuel Stewart, Aaron Jones, Walter Dahme and Caius Dehaart. - NWRESD identified, screened and sponsored the students for the Youth CDL Pilot Program. - The three-week skills sequence covers range and backing skills, road driving, pre-trip inspection preparation and final CDL testing. - Trucking companies, utility companies and other local employers attended the career fair and were prepared to pre-hire and screen graduates before license completion. - A student said the program exposed participants to trucking jobs and helped one graduate secure work at Stadelman Valley Farms two months before earning a CDL. - The program has been in development for more than two years with Washington County superintendents, the Oregon Employment Department and NWRESD data analysts. - NWRESD created the initiative to support students moving from high school into a living-wage career with a wide range of job options. - Elite Truck School provides the range, road training and testing environment that takes students from permit to license. - Elite Truck School also offers Class A and Class B CDL training and is WIOA and VA approved.

Between the lines: - The early hiring interest shows how tight the market is for qualified CDL drivers in the Pacific Northwest. - The program is also a workforce strategy, not just a training class, because it links school credentials directly to employer demand. - NWRESD is testing whether a regional credential can shorten the path from high school to stable employment. - The pilot could become a template for other counties if the move into Class A licensing translates into job placement and retention.

What's next: - Students will continue through skills training and CDL testing as they finish the pilot. - NWRESD plans to expand the program beyond Washington County to Columbia County in the 2026-27 school year. - More students are expected to gain access to Class A Commercial Driver's License training if the expansion proceeds. - A video featuring the student cohort is available here.

The bottom line: - Washington County graduates are using a short, employer-linked CDL pipeline to reach jobs that can pay well and start fast.