Apprenticeship and Training

The Apprentice and Training Program began in 1990 and is administered jointly by management and labor to provide uniformed and organized training for Minnesota Teamsters Local 120 (Twin Cities) and Local 346 (Duluth).

The training consists of 300 hours of in classroom training and rodeo training over a period of two years at Dakota County College. In addition to the classroom training, 2000 hours of on-the-job training through employment in the industry are required to reach a journey person status.

Apprentices typically spend a great deal of time learning about trucks and their components. This training consists of lectures and hands on training in the truck-driving rodeo. They learn and practice with a variety of equipment, starting, stopping, cornering, backing up, loading and unloading and how to be a safe and efficient driver. Apprentices also learn all of the requirements for daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections.

Students in the program start off with 150 hours of related classroom training. In those initial sessions, they prepare for their Class B Commercial Driver’s License and receive related training. After the first 150 hours of the training is complete, the apprentice begins his or hers 2000 hours of on-the-job training. And then the next year it’s back to school for another 150 hours of in class room training to receive training on a Class A or combination tractor trailer.

In addition to the driver training program the Apprentice Training program also has additional training in OSHA 10 and 30 for construction, MSHA 8 hour refresher and 24 hour new miner, Construction Forklift, Load Securement, Defensive Driving for the Professional Truck Driver, Advanced First Aid and CPR.

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