Interested in driving a truck as a career?
Shaquala Brown, an聽,聽has been driving for more than 10 years and can鈥檛 see herself doing anything else. She saw an ad for the CDL program but enrolled based on a recommendation from her uncle. Here is how she describes her life as an over-the-road driver:
鈥淚 ended up doing mostly long-haul driving because I was only 21
when I graduated and most companies preferred employees who were older. Now I prefer it because my career has given me the opportunity to visit all 48
states.聽I drive with a buddy, and sometimes my dog and prefer the night聽shift. When I drive, my companion driver is in the back where we have聽comfortable sleeping accommodations, a TV and a mini-kitchen. The alone time聽gives me the opportunity to learn new languages; I have audio tapes for French,聽Spanish and Japanese. When I need a break, I listen to podcasts or satellite聽radio. I usually drive for 11 hours and then take the required 10-hour break聽during which time my partner drives. We usually switch and buy fuel and food at聽the same time. Sometimes I sleep the whole 10 hours; other times I read or work聽on my crafting, a new hobby of mine. I generally stay in the back unless we聽experience bad weather or horrible traffic. Then I hop back into the front.
It鈥檚 good to have an extra pair of eyes and hands when conditions on the road
are not perfect.聽At our destination, we can often choose where we go next; other聽times the destination is chosen for us. If there is a time lapse, we stay at a聽hotel and check out the local sites. If not, our job is to hook up the聽trailers; we generally haul two at a time. I prefer getting right back on the聽road and am usually home for the weekends.聽There is so much flexibility, so much opportunity for adventure聽and self-discovery. The key is to find the right boss. Then the road (to聽success) is wide open.鈥�
All-State Career offers Advanced Tractor Trailer Driving, Class A CDL Driving, Class B CDL Driving and Commercial Truck Driver Training. Programs and schedules vary by campus.聽 If you are interested in a
career in commercial driving, visit聽.