Navigating the Road to a CDL: Insights from Kilgore College's Transportation Institute with D'Wayne Shaw

In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials Podcast, we dive deep into the world of truck driving education with our special guest, D'Wayne Shaw, Executive Dean of Professional and Career Education at Kilgore College. We kick off the conversation by discussing the importance of choosing the right place to get your CDL and the credentials to look for in a truck driving school. D'Wayne emphasizes the significance of FMCSA-certified curriculums and the quality of equipment used in training. We then explore the exciting new development at Kilgore College: the Transportation Institute. D'Wayne shares the journey of establishing this institute, highlighting the community effort and collaboration with Kilgore Economic Development. The institute boasts a custom-built driving skills facility, complete with a classroom, warehouse for logistics training, and a simulated loading dock. This state-of-the-art facility aims to provide top-notch training for aspiring truck drivers. D'Wayne also touches on the challenges and investments involved in setting up a truck driving program, from acquiring and maintaining trucks to ensuring a safe and effective learning environment. He explains the process of becoming a third-party testing site, which allows Kilgore College to test their students on-site, significantly reducing the wait time for testing. We discuss the demographics of the students enrolling in the CDL program, noting that most are older individuals making a career change rather than recent high school graduates. D'Wayne mentions the importance of maturity and experience in handling the responsibilities of truck driving. Towards the end of the episode, we touch on the potential for future courses focused on entrepreneurship and business management for those looking to become owner-operators. D'Wayne expresses interest in expanding the curriculum to include these aspects, recognizing the importance of business acumen in the trucking industry. Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the efforts and innovations at Kilgore College to enhance truck driving education and support the logistics industry. We invite our listeners to join us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 14th and to consider Kilgore College for their CDL training needs.