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There are resources for those will-
ing to explore the possibility. Funding
for training specific to employers willing
to work with ex-offenders is available
through the Department of Workforce
Services, according to Childers. (Read
more on Page 58 about how the
Arkansas Department of Corrections is
working to prepare ex-offenders for the
workplace.)
Workforce Services also provides
direct training for CDL licensing and
diesel technician certification, but it
takes more than job-specific training to
increase the odds of successfully assimi-
lating an ex-offender. Many of them
have not developed the habit of regularly
showing up to work or experienced the
benefits of receiving a paycheck. BUSINESS FOUNDATION FOR A
“We can pay tuition and training
costs for eligible individuals,” Childers SUCCESSFUL CAREER
said. “Housing and transportation and
childcare and utilities and rent. We can
help them with career planning. We can UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE | ONLINE OR IN PERSON
identify providers that can provide them
with training that leads to a license.”
Childers says the department also Since its inception in 1969, the UCA College of Business has
works with adult education services to educated the business leaders of tomorrow. Our students
offer tutoring in the math and literacy receive a high-quality education from knowledgeable, nationally
skills needed to pass a driving test, for recognized faculty. Our hands-on learning opportunities and
example. They can also teach employers rigorous curriculum prepare graduates to navigate the changing
how to be the type of mentor an ex- business world.
offender often needs.

MORE GOOD NEWS The UCA College of Business is among the top business schools
During the conference, Childers in the country and is continuously accredited by the Association
announced the opening of a new CDL to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
driver testing site in Saline County.
“The state police are aware of the Go here. Go anywhere.
concerns and the backlog. They are
working to open this site and hopefully
new sites in the future.”
It may not happen as soon as
most carriers would like, but there are
plenty of reasons to believe the work-
force shortages that have dogged the
trucking industry for decades are not
insurmountable. In the meantime, car-
riers can focus on creating a productive
work environment, finding ways to help
Arkansas attract new residents and tak-
ing advantage of the training resources uca.edu/business
offered by the state. ATR

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