Driving Education Forward
Ameren Illinois fuels the future through donation to truck driver training program
Students at Lewis and Clark Community College will now have access to a valuable hands-on training tool, thanks to a donation from Ameren Illinois. In December 2024, officials from Ameren Illinois and L&C gathered at the college’s Godfrey campus to celebrate the donation of a retired 2006 Freightliner to the college’s Truck Driver Training program.
L&C Board of Trustees President Dwight Werts highlighted the truck’s broad training potential.
“This truck can be used to train people to drive anything from a fire truck to a lumber truck to maybe even an Ameren truck,” Werts said. “I want to thank Ameren for being a great partner.”
The donation aligns with Ameren Illinois’ commitment to workforce development and education, added L&C President Ken Trzaska. “We’re extremely grateful to Ameren for their generosity in supporting our Truck Driver Training program and Lewis & Clark in general,” Trzaska said. “We look at this as a great example of partnerships in the community and the region.”
Ameren Illinois maintains a fleet of nearly 3,300 vehicles, including trucks, trailers, and specialized equipment. When fleet vehicles are rotated out of service and require minimal repairs or refurbishing, they are evaluated for donation to municipalities and community organizations.
“Ameren Illinois is committed to building stronger communities, and preparing the workforce of the future for jobs in the skilled trades is a natural extension of those efforts,” said Aitor Barrio, director of West Region Gas Operations for Ameren Illinois. “We’re glad our retired natural gas construction truck will be put to good use by students pursuing their Illinois commercial driver’s license. Even if one of these students stays in the region and builds a career here, this donation will be well worth the investment.”
L&C Truck Driver Training Program Coordinator Kent Ripperda confirms the truck will be put to good use.
“We launched our Class B commercial driver’s license course this fall, and this truck will be instrumental for skills testing and driving, as well as pre-trip inspections,” Ripperda said. “We’re thankful to Ameren Illinois for their support.”
Paula Nixon, community relations executive for Ameren Illinois, said, “As a community relations professional, I get no greater satisfaction than facilitating the utilization of our company’s resources. Our friends and neighbors are accustomed to seeing Ameren trucks in their neighborhoods. It’s rewarding to know that those vehicles can help train the next generation of workers.”