A little over a year ago Fayetteville Technical Community College announced their plans to construct a 600- by 900-foot driving pad that featured a shifting track and a skid area and would permit multiple tractor trailers to operate at once.

While the project was initially expected to be completed in 2024, a few bumps in the road have resulted in changes to the timeline. Nevertheless, the plans are still in motion.

FTCC’s Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing Catherine Pritchard explained that the project has been working its way through various steps of the planning process and the construction documents for Phase I are currently awaiting approval from the State Construction Office. The documents were submitted in August. 

“We're hoping for approval soon and hope to have the project ready to go out for bid in November. That would be the next step. We anticipate that once construction begins that it would take eight months to complete Phase I,” shared Pritchard. 

The $13.5 million complex is set for a 58-acre property on Old Raeford Road and will also include a 5,000-square-foot classroom building and a two-bay diesel maintenance garage. In addition to Commercial Driver’s License training, the complex is expected to house a new Fleet Maintenance Technician program.

As to why FTCC is building this facility, Dr. Murtis Worth, FTCC's Senior Vice President for Academics and Student Services, noted that the College has a waiting list of students who want to take their CDL classes so the new facility will help FTCC meet demand. It will also permit the College to help Bladen Community College and Robeson Community College by providing vital training space for their CDL students.

"This is a high-demand, high-wage industry," Worth said. "Truck drivers play an essential role in keeping the local, state and national supply chain operating."

Dr. Mark Sorrells, President of FTCC, said the regional facility would enable FTCC, BCC and RCC to "work collectively toward meeting the existing workforce needs and future economic development projects in the Sandhills Region and across our state."