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Women in Trades: CDL and Welding Training at ACI

Women are building solid careers in the trades. These fields, like trucking and welding, need skilled workers, and pay in both is tied to the work being done. Advanced Career Institute (ACI) trains students for these careers at five campuses in California and Nevada, and no bachelor’s degree is required.

Why More Women Are Choosing the Trades

Trade jobs have long been seen as work for men. That view is changing. Employers in trucking and welding are working harder to hire women, and many need more workers to fill open jobs.

A trade career offers women several practical benefits:

  • Short training time. ACI’s CDL programs run 4 to 20 weeks, and the welding program runs 38 weeks.
  • Pay based on the work. Many truck drivers are paid by the mile, so drivers who log the same miles earn the same pay. Welders’ pay depends on skill, certification and the industry they work in.
  • Hands-on learning. Students spend their training time behind the wheel or in the welding shop, not just in a classroom.
  • A growing network. Women entering the trades can connect with organizations built to support them.

Women in Trucking

Women make up 7-10 percent of truck drivers, according to the Women In Trucking Association. Carriers are working to raise that number, in part because of their safety records. A study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that women truck drivers were safer than men in every statistically significant safety behavior. In that study, men were 20 percent more likely to be involved in a crash.

Trucking also offers room to grow. Drivers with several years of experience can move into training new drivers, and there is demand for women trainers.

ACI offers Class A CDL training in 4-week and 6-week programs that meet federal Entry-Level Driver Training requirements. Students learn pre-trip inspection, vehicle control, shifting, backing and on-road driving. The 20-week Ag Transportation program prepares drivers for hauling work in the San Joaquin Valley. CDL training is offered at the Fresno, Visalia, Merced and Las Vegas campuses.

Women in Welding

Women make up roughly 5 to 7 percent of working welders in the U.S., according to the American Welding Society. Welders are needed to build and repair everything from equipment to buildings, and graduates can work in fabrication, maintenance and field welding.

ACI’s welding program takes 38 weeks. Students train in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), MIG welding, flux-core arc welding, and oxy-acetylene cutting and brazing. The curriculum is recognized by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), and graduates are prepared to take American Welding Society (AWS) performance qualification tests. No welding experience is needed to enroll.

Morning, daytime, evening and night sessions are available at the Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield campuses.

A Community of Women in the Trades

Women in trucking and welding do not have to go it alone. Several groups connect women in these fields, share resources and push for better workplaces:

  • Trucking: Women In Trucking Association (WIT) and its Accelerate! Conference, REAL Women in Trucking, and S.H.E. Trucking
  • Welding: Women Who Weld, a nonprofit that trains women to weld and helps them find work

Support from Start to Finish

ACI helps students cover the cost of training and find work after graduation. Tuition assistance options for those who qualify include grants and scholarships, federal and private loans, payment plans and company-sponsored funding. Veterans assistance is also available. Students and graduates can get job placement assistance with resumes, applications, interviews and networking.

Take the First Step

Women curious about a career in trucking or welding can learn more with no commitment. Request program information or contact a campus to ask questions and see what training looks like.

FAQ

Does ACI have a separate trade program for women?

No. Women train in the same CDL and welding programs as all ACI students and earn the same credentials.

How does a woman get a CDL?

She first earns a commercial learner’s permit, then completes Entry-Level Driver Training with an approved school. After training, she must pass the CDL skills test.

What jobs can women get after CDL training?

Graduates qualify for entry-level driving jobs with common carriers, private fleets, and local, regional or long-haul companies.

Can women in trucking be home every night?

Yes, with the right job. Local driving jobs often let drivers return home each day, while regional and long-haul routes keep drivers out longer.

What jobs can women get after welding training?

Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles such as welder, arc welder and combination welder. These jobs are found in fabrication, maintenance and field welding.

Can women attend trade school part-time at ACI?

Yes. ACI offers part-time and full-time schedules at all of its campuses.