FedEx Freight Donates Two Tractors to Relaunch Arkansas CDL Program
UA Northark will resume four-week CDL training this fall after 18-month pause, using two FedEx tractors and 48-foot trailers donated to address driver shortage.
University of Arkansas Northark will relaunch its commercial driver's license training program in Harrison, Arkansas, this fall after an 18-month pause. FedEx Freight donated two tractors and two 48-foot trailers to support the restart.
The four-week intensive course will run multiple sessions throughout the year to move students quickly into employment. The donation gives students access to industry-standard equipment amid a persistent shortage of qualified professional drivers.
Why did UA Northark pause its CDL program for 18 months?
The source material does not specify why the program paused. The college suspended CDL training 18 months ago and is now relaunching with FedEx Freight equipment support.
What equipment did FedEx Freight donate?
FedEx Freight contributed two tractors and two 48-foot trailers. The equipment meets current industry standards and will be used for hands-on training in the four-week course.
"America is facing a serious shortage of professional drivers," said Rodney Myers, vice president of human resources for FedEx Freight. "Developing professional drivers is critical to FedEx Freight, the industry and consumers. We are proud to partner with UA Northark to relaunch the CDL program and provide equipment to train safe and professional drivers."
Chancellor Rick Massengale called the donation a significant investment in student success and regional workforce development.
How long is the UA Northark CDL training course?
The program runs four weeks. UA Northark plans to offer multiple sessions throughout the year to accelerate student entry into the workforce. The intensive format compresses training into a single month, shorter than many community college CDL programs that run eight to twelve weeks.
The college has not announced tuition costs or enrollment capacity for the fall relaunch.
What the FedEx donation means for Arkansas driver supply
The relaunch adds training capacity in north-central Arkansas, a region with limited CDL school options. Harrison sits on U.S. Highway 65, a north-south freight corridor connecting Missouri to Little Rock.
FedEx Freight's equipment donation follows a pattern of carrier-supported training programs. The company gains access to graduates trained on equipment matching its fleet specifications. Students train on the same tractor-trailer combinations they will operate after hire.
The driver retention crisis has tightened for the first time in 40 months, according to recent carrier earnings reports. Covenant Transportation Group reported in April 2026 that driver availability had shifted after more than three years of surplus labor.
The timing of UA Northark's relaunch aligns with renewed carrier interest in entry-level driver pipelines. The four-week format targets students who need fast entry into employment, a demographic that includes career changers and workers displaced from other industries.
What students need to know before enrolling
Applicants must meet Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements, which took effect in February 2022. ELDT mandates specific hours of behind-the-wheel training, range instruction, and classroom theory before a student can take the CDL skills test.
UA Northark has not published its fall course schedule or application deadlines. Prospective students should contact the college directly for enrollment information.
The program will train students for Class A CDL, the license required to operate combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. The two 48-foot trailers donated by FedEx Freight are standard dry van equipment used in over-the-road freight.
Next steps for north Arkansas CDL candidates
UA Northark expects to open fall enrollment in the coming weeks. Students who complete the four-week course will be eligible to take the Arkansas CDL skills test immediately after graduation.
The college has not announced job placement partnerships, but FedEx Freight's equipment donation suggests the carrier will recruit from the program. Other regional carriers hiring in north Arkansas include ABF Freight, J.B. Hunt, and Walmart Transportation.
Candidates should verify that UA Northark's program appears on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) before enrolling. Only schools listed on the TPR can certify students for ELDT completion, a prerequisite for taking the CDL skills test.
