The Dallas College Foundation presented a non-profit with a donation Friday to develop a "mobile workforce initiative." "Be Pro Be Proud" aims to show students potential careers in construction or other trades.
"This can go around to high schools and different events. Basically, it's a career fair on wheels," says Dallas College North Lake Campus President Dr. Rick Smith Sr.
The Dallas College Foundation gave $250,000 for a truck to be built showing students options in ten construction jobs including HVAC work, pipe-fitting, truck driving, and welding. Smith says the truck can let students try out different jobs they might find interesting.
"What better, safer place to do that than on a simulator that comes to you?" he says. "If you think, 'You know what? I really like this,' then we can help you find the pathway to get the training needed to take this on as a profession."
The TEXO Association, a construction alliance in North and East Texas, says the simulator can also start kids down a path where they can learn what training and certificates they might need.
"We have a ton of students in DFW who are studying construction in high school, but they don't really know how to get into the industry," says TEXO Chief Executive Meloni Raney. "This will be part of that catalyst."
If students can learn about trades that are in demand and see which they might be interested in, Raney says trucks like "Be Pro Be Proud" can help them get information they need so a company might even pay for necessary training.
"Everybody who goes on the truck comes off with a different perception and some excitement about a career," she says. "Everybody realizes how important it is to have this generation of craft professionals coming into the industry."
The American Trucking Associations says Texas leads the country with almost 200,000 commercial truck drivers, but the organization says the country may have a shortage of 160,000 drivers by the end of the decade. ATA says 82% of Texas communities rely exclusively on trucks for needed products.
Associated General Contractors says the construction industry accounted for 4.4% of the state's GDP in 2023, contributing $106 billion. The organization says 85% of companies reported difficulty hiring people for skilled craft positions.