Director of CDL & Diesel Mechanic Programs

UHP (Unlock Human Potential)•Gentry, AR

17d•Onsite

About The Position

UHP is adding two transportation trades programs in 2027, a CDL truck driving school and a Diesel Mechanic program, and the Founding Director of CDL & Diesel Mechanic Programs owns both from day one. This is a build role, not a maintain role. You will write the curriculum, stand up the range, fleet, and shop, get the programs licensed, registered, and on track for accreditation, hire the instructor team, and then teach in the programs you built. The CDL program will enroll students from across the country, run 20-student cohorts, and train toward Class A and Class B licenses under federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules. The Diesel Mechanic program will run 20-student cohorts on the UHP trades calendar. Both are being built alongside Northwest Arkansas employer partners, including J.B. Hunt and Walmart. The two programs run together on purpose. Drivers who understand the equipment are safer and more employable, and mechanics who understand how trucks are driven diagnose them better. We want one leader who has worked both sides of the truck and can build a single, connected transportation pathway. Expect to spend about 25% of your time teaching during the build year, growing toward 50% once both programs are running.

Requirements

Current Class A CDL, a valid DOT medical card, and a driving record that meets FMCSA entry-level driver training instructor requirements
5+ years of commercial driving experience, or a combination of commercial driving and CDL instruction
Hands-on experience maintaining, inspecting, or repairing heavy trucks and diesel equipment
2+ years leading people, such as a driver manager, shop lead, training lead, or military NCO
Working knowledge of FMCSA and DOT rules, including hours of service, vehicle inspection, and drug and alcohol testing
Ability to be approved as an instructor by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Comfort writing procedures, keeping accurate records, and using basic software for scheduling and reporting
High school diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

Experience starting or growing a training program, terminal, or shop
Experience with ELDT, the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, or third-party CDL skills testing
Over-the-road or regional driving experience with a strong safety record and experience mentoring new drivers
Time working as a diesel mechanic, diesel technician, or heavy truck technician; ASE Medium/Heavy Truck certifications are a plus
Prior experience as a CDL instructor, driver trainer, shop trainer, or military instructor; a genuine interest in teaching adults matters most
Military veterans are strongly encouraged to apply; experience as a motor transport operator (Army 88M), wheeled vehicle mechanic (Army 91B), or NCO maps directly to this role
Hazmat, tanker, or doubles/triples endorsements
Associate degree or higher in a technical field, education, or business

Responsibilities

Lead the launch of the CDL and Diesel Mechanic programs from planning through the first graduating cohorts
Design or adapt curriculum: federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory and behind-the-wheel content for Class A and Class B, and a diesel curriculum aligned to ASE Education Foundation standards
Specify the trucks, trailers, range, shop bays, tools, and training aids each program needs, and work with procurement to get them in place
Set cohort calendars, student-to-instructor ratios, and systems for tracking training hours and completions
Serve as program director on the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) private career school application for the CDL program
Keep UHP compliant as an FMCSA Training Provider Registry provider, including timely reporting of student completions
Own DOT compliance for the training fleet: USDOT registration, drug and alcohol testing, driver qualification files, inspections, and maintenance records
Work toward Arkansas third-party CDL skills testing and ASE Education Foundation accreditation for the diesel program
Build a strong safety culture on the range, on the road, and in the shop
Recruit, hire, train, and supervise the CDL lead instructor, behind-the-wheel instructors, and diesel instructors, and confirm each meets federal, state, and accreditation requirements
Observe classes, coach instructors, and keep instruction consistent across cohorts
Teach CDL classroom and range sessions, behind-the-wheel coaching, and diesel shop instruction as your credentials allow, and step in when an instructor is out
Work with J.B. Hunt, Walmart, and other carriers and fleets on hiring pipelines, curriculum input, and student placement
Support students from enrollment through licensing and job placement, including students returning to other states for their license
Help secure veteran (GI Bill) and WIOA funding approval
Manage program budgets, fleet costs, and supply spending, and report on enrollment, completions, CDL pass rates, job placement, and safety incidents