St. Clair County Community College has established a state-of-the-art lab to train students for jobs in the fields of transportation, distribution and logistics. The lab will train students enrolled in certificate programs in radio frequency identification technology and transportation and logistics technology. Both programs will give students the education they need to compete in the growing shipping and import/export industries. Classes for both programs begin Aug. 24 in Port Huron.

The lab features a working conveyor system, radio frequency identification equipment and related computer equipment. “The equipment will emulate warehouse activities and gives students a basic understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the technology,” said Dennis Valade, SC4 transportation, distribution and logistics project manager. The radio frequency identification technology certificate trains students to set up an RFID system, test and troubleshoot the system components and modify the system. The transportation and logistics technology certificate gives students a working knowledge of the freight transportation industry. This includes supply chain management, domestic and international freight operations, import and export procedures and documents, and border security.

Both programs were funded as part of a $2 million grant, in partnership with Mott Community College in Flint, under the Community-Based Job Training grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The grant is providing the program and equipment to train more than 400 workers in the tracking and movement of goods.

For program details and more information about careers in transportation, call the SC4 Engineering Technology Department at (810) 989-5754 or visit www.sc4.edu/transportation. Registration is open for fall courses that begin Aug. 24. To register, visit www.sc4.edu/wave or call (810) 989-5500.