UBTech partners with Finley Resources & Uintah Wax and others on innovative CDL program
By Stephanie Carter
Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) has announced that Finley Resources and Uinta Wax have partnered with the College to fund and establish an Advanced Energy Transportation program. This new initiative will provide existing CDL drivers with advanced training to transport black and yellow wax from Utah’s Uintah Basin.
“We need drivers to help get this unique wax product to the Salt Lake refineries and the export gulf coast. Drivers can earn up to $150,000.00 a year or more,” said Finley Resources CEO Jim Finley.
The Uintah Basin is limited to 80,000 barrels a day in the Salt Lake refineries. The growth of the export markets on the gulf coast will eliminate the boom-and-bust cycles and lead to steady long-term growth here in Utah, said Finley.
UBTech President Aaron Weight said, “the initiative unites industry and the power of technical education in providing business solutions that will lead to economic growth.”
The Advanced Energy Transportation program is for CDL drivers who have up to 2 years of experience in the workforce and are interested in transporting Uinta black and yellow wax out of the Basin.
In addition to Finley Resources & Uinta Wax, these initiatives partner with several trucking carriers, including Maverick, Marathon, Big Star, Savage, and Badlands, to name a few.
The new advanced CDL training program at UBTech will also partner with trucking carriers who will hire and provide pay, benefits, and additional on-the-job training as participants transition to hauling wax.
Trucking companies participating in the partnership will also provide additional resources, including equipment and scholarships to UBTech’s CDL programs.
UBTech will hire additional instructors as the program expands and provide advanced training to prepare CDL drivers with the skills necessary to enter the energy transportation industry successfully.
The transportation companies have helped drive curriculum development to ensure that it fits the workforce demands. The program is ready for companies to send employees to UBTech for advanced CDL training later this summer, pending approval from the College’s accrediting body (Council on Occupational Education).
“UBTech is proud to partner with the energy and trucking industries to develop training opportunities, preparing their future workforce with qualified employees,” said Weight.
“Technical colleges are designed to partner with industry and prepare the workforce to go out and grow our economy.”
For more information about this upcoming program, or if you’d like to partner with UBTech, please contact Executive Advisor of Instruction at the President’s Office Tammy Wilkerson at (435)722-6906.
Last month, UBTech and Finley Resources & Uintah Wax hosted several CDL trucking companies for a discussion on how UBTech can meet the trucking industry demand for drivers. CEO of Finley Resources & Uintah Wax, Jim Finley (pictured left), has been instrumental in connecting leaders to meet the future needs of the oil and gas industry. UBTech President, Aaron K. Weight (pictured right), looks forward to working with CDL companies and establishing an Advanced Energy Transportation program at UBTech.
UBTech President, Aaron K. Weight, and CEO of Finley Resources & Uintah Wax, Jim Finley, signed a formal agreement to fund and establish an Advanced Energy Transportation program. This new initiative will provide existing CDL drivers with advanced training to transport black and yellow wax from Utah’s Uintah Basin.
