DMACC Officially Opens Albaugh Family Transportation Institute to Train Iowa’s Next Generation of Drivers

DMACC today officially opened the brand-new 8,600-square-foot Albaugh Family Transportation Institute with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a community open house, campus tours, and a career fair with regional trucking employers.

The state-of-the-art facility replaces DMACC's aging truck-driving training space and will increase the College's CDL program capacity from 160 students to 240 annually, with room to eventually train up to 500 students each year .

The Albaugh Family Transportation Institute was made possible through the generosity of lead donor Dennis Albaugh, a DMACC graduate, along with numerous business and community partners.

"This is a fantastic day for DMACC, our students, and our community," said DMACC President Rob Denson. "The new Transportation Institute is a vital investment in workforce development, economic growth, and opportunity. With expanded training space, modern classrooms, and state-of-the-art equipment, we can now serve more students, more efficiently, and more effectively. This is DMACC and workforce education at its best -responsive, relevant, and ready."

The Albaugh Family Transportation Institute at DMACC features:

• Three new classrooms and student study areas

• A two-story truck inspection bay, doubling training space for semi truck maintenance

• An 8-acre concrete driving course with seven painted ranges for backing exercises

• Expanded space for CDL training led by industry-experienced instructors

• A new motorcycle repair and storage building to support DMACC's motorcycle training program

Meeting a Critical Workforce Need

Trucking remains one of Iowa's most critical workforce pipelines, with demand outpacing available drivers, and DMACC's intensive three-week CDL program helps fill that gap by preparing students for lucrative, in-demand careers while supplying regional employers with safe, skilled drivers. The program maintains a 97 percent graduation rate, producing more than 240 graduates each year.

Students are trained by experienced drivers - five of the Institute's seven instructors are alumni who returned to help guide the next generation.

"When there is a transportation need in the community, we're here to fulfill it," said Derrick Walker, DMACC Transportation Institute Director. "We teach what the industry needs, when it needs it. No matter where you're starting, DMACC Transportation Institute helps put your career in the fast lane."

The project was supported through a wide range of donors and partners, including the Albaugh Family, Kent Corporation, Ruan, Casey's, Fareway, Hy-Vee, Prairie Meadows, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Jane and Bob Sturgeon, Dee Johnson, the State of Iowa, and federal Community Project Funding with assistance from Representative Zach Nunn.

"DMACC is my university - I'm proud to be a graduate, and I couldn't be happier to support this project," said Dennis Albaugh, lead donor. "My business wouldn't operate without truck drivers. We rely on them every day to move products in and out of our plants across the country. This new facility ensures that Iowa will continue producing the skilled, safe drivers that keep our economy moving, and I'm proud to help make that possible."

A Gateway to Opportunity

Behind every CDL, there is a story, President Denson said at the ribbon cutting ceremony, highlighting how DMACC's training has supported veterans transitioning to civilian life, single parents starting over, and second-chance learners proving it's never too late.

"This facility will change lives," Denson said. "Transportation is about more than trucks and trailers - it's about moving people into new careers, moving families into economic security, and moving Iowa's economy forward."

Those stories were reflected at the podium when two program graduates shared how DMACC's CDL training opened doors and offered fresh starts.

Erik Wisecup, a program alum who transitioned from corporate management to trucking, said:

"You can't build a great building without a good foundation, and that's exactly what this program provides. The professionalism, expertise, and care from the instructors gave me confidence I didn't have before. This program has opened doors that were impossible before - it's amazing what opportunities you get out of three weeks of class."

Chris Roberts, who enrolled after a 33-year career at a local meat processing plant closed, now drives for Fareway.

"This program taught me the right way - the safe, responsible way - to be on the road. You can get a CDL without training, but I don't know if I'd want to meet those drivers out there. DMACC sets you up for a career, not just a license. It's intense, it's rewarding, and it gave me a second career I love."

After the ribbon cutting, community members were invited to tour the new Institute, meet with major employers at the career fair, and even test-drive a semi-truck on the 8-acre training concourse with a CDL instructor.

To learn more about the DMACC Transportation Institute, visit: dmacc.edu/transportation-institute

Media Contact:

Savannah Eadens

DMACC Public Relations

[email protected] | 515-675-3275