Diamond, Ohio - TDDS Technical Institute, which has provided training for truckers and other areas of the transportation industry for 48 years, told students and other partners that it is suspending all training programs immediately. 

In a letter sent out Friday to "students, staff and recruiting partners," CEO and owner Rick Rathburn said the company has been struggling since reopening after the coronavirus pandemic. 

"Low enrollment, revenue shortfalls, staffing deficiencies, increased cost of daily operations (i.e. wages, benefits, diesel fuel/oil), changes in financial aid regulations and continual delays with our program participation agreement renewal process with the U.S. Department of Education, TDDS is no longer able to offer truck driver and diesel technician training programs," Rathburn wrote in the letter. 

Rathburn went on to say he's found it difficult to attract new students, which he blamed in part on higher unemployment benefits. 

"Most of our target student population found comfort in the enhanced unemployment compensation opportunity and have taken advantage of that benefit versus an educational path afforded to those in need of a well-paying career in the transportation industry," Rathburn wrote in the letter. 

Those enhanced unemployment benefits, which provided an additional $300 per week to the usual benefit of roughly half of a person's wages, are set to expire in two weeks. 

Rathburn said at this point, closing the facility permanently is a possibility, but that it's not a certainty yet. He said he's got some "irons in the fire" and expects to know more about the future of the school early next week.