Trucking partnership to steer drivers to region

CHARLOTTE COUNTY — CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and the Suncoast Trucking Academy in Punta Gorda have teamed up to increase the number of skilled drivers in the region.

The partnership will fund a core skills training program called Bridges to Careers, a statement says. The program will be an additional component in the trucking academy's commercial drivers license training and certification program.

The program will teach truck driving candidates the necessary soft skills, such as communication, professionalism, customer service, time management and team building, to pair with their driving skills, the statement adds. The objective is to increase jobs in a high demand industry, according to the statement.

CareerEdge is a partnership of business, government and philanthropic organizations that works to improve job and wage opportunities in Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota counties.