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FTCC receives major equipment donation from Carolina Power and Signalization to advance Electrical Lineworker program

By Staff Report, posted Apr 27, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Photo provided by FTCC

Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) has received a significant in-kind donation from Carolina Power and Signalization, a local utility contractor serving utilities nationwide. The donation, consisting of a bucket truck (line truck), a digger derrick (drill truck) and a pole trailer will serve as critical training equipment for students enrolled in FTCC's Electrical Lineworker program through the Division of Corporate and Industry Training and Continuing Education. 

The contribution comes at a pivotal time. The bucket truck previously used for student training had become inoperable, creating an urgent gap in hands-on instruction. The donation from Carolina Power and Signalization directly addresses that need and elevates the program to a new level of industry readiness. 

"As a local hometown utility contractor serving utilities nationwide, we at Carolina Power and Signalization recognize the growing demand for skilled lineworkers across the country," said Garret Fulcher, president of Carolina Power and Signalization, in a press release. "Supporting the next generation starts right here at home. Providing essential equipment, including the bucket truck, the digger derrick and a pole trailer, shows we're investing directly in the hands-on training that makes this program so effective. We believe in FTCC's curriculum, its leadership, and its ability to produce highly capable apprentice lineworkers. This contribution helps ensure students gain real-world experience on the same equipment they'll encounter in the field, strengthening both their readiness and the future of our industry." 

The bucket truck is far more than a piece of equipment. It is a cornerstone of modern lineworker training. While learning to climb a utility pole with hooks remains a foundational skill, today's utility industry relies heavily on bucket truck operations for efficiency and safety. 

"In an entry-level lineworker course, integrating a bucket truck isn't just about teaching students how to flip switches; it's about building the 'complete lineworker' skill set," said Dean of Corporate & Industry Training at FTCC Luis Velez in a press release. "Most modern utility work is performed from a bucket rather than from hooks. It moves students from 'student mode' to 'apprentice mode' by mimicking the exact daily workflow of a utility crew. Students learn to manage a 'material handler' jib — a small crane on the bucket — to lift transformers or heavy cross-arms, tasks that are significantly different when performed from an aerial platform versus the ground." 

Safety is the defining principle of FTCC's Electrical Lineworker curriculum. When a student is climbing a pole, a significant portion of mental energy is devoted to managing gaffs and preventing falls. The bucket truck provides a stable aerial platform, allowing students to focus entirely on the technical task at hand, whether that is wire-skinning, dead-ending or transformer wiring, without the physical exhaustion or fear associated with pole climbing. 

Bucket Rescue training is a mandatory industry skill included in FTCC's curriculum. Students learn how to manually lower a bucket if the operator becomes incapacitated due to a medical emergency or electrical contact. Students also receive hands-on experience with insulated booms and learn how to maintain the truck's dielectric integrity to prevent tracking and electrocution, a critical concept known as "keeping the boom clean." 

A lineworker is also a heavy equipment operator, and FTCC's program reflects that reality. Bucket truck training incorporates pre-trip inspections, hydraulic fluid checks and outrigger placement as part of CDL (Commercial Driver's License) preparation. FTCC's Lineworker program offers a 40-hour CDL prep course followed by 250 hours of CDL training upon completion of Lineworker requirements, and the donated trucks will directly support the driving component of that curriculum.

Students also develop critical spatial awareness by learning to maneuver a 50-foot boom around energized lines without contact; a high-stakes skill that cannot be replicated by a ladder or hooks alone.

The donation is the result of a sustained partnership between Carolina Power and Signalization and FTCC's leadership team. Through multiple meetings focused on regional workforce needs, company president Garret Fulcher identified specific equipment gaps in the program. 

"Carolina Power and Signalization met with FTCC multiple times to discuss industry needs and to ensure that our training meets the local needs," said Associate Vice President for Continuing Education at FTCC Jolee Marsh in a press release. "Through these conversations, Mr. Fulcher graciously gifted us a line truck, a pole trailer, and a digger derrick. These are used in each class so that students have firsthand experience prior to entering the workforce. Part of the new curriculum is a 200-hour CDL class, and the trucks will further assist with the driving component to obtain a CDL." 

Fulcher emphasized that the donation reflects a long-term investment in the regional workforce pipeline.

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