The 16th class has graduated from Wayne Community College’s Truck Driver Training evening course.
Graduates of the program were tested through written and behind-the-wheel exams to ensure they have the skills and knowledge required to safely and successfully operate commercial vehicles. These individuals earned a Class A Commercial Driver’s License, DOT 380 certificate, and WCC Workforce Continuing Education certificate.
At the program’s graduation, WCC President Patty Pfeiffer noted that the ceremony was a “sending off” of the new commercial truck drivers into a vital industry. “Without them, store shelves would be empty, hospitals would run low on supplies, and businesses may slow to a halt. It’s easy to take it for granted, but everything that we rely on—our food, our fuel, our medicine, and so much more—gets to us because of professional drivers,” she said.
During the ceremony, Cody Bechel offered reflections about the program on behalf of his class. “We all quickly realized that driving a truck isn’t just a job; it’s a craft,” he shared.
Bechel said that he and his classmates had different life stories but found common ground behind the wheel. “We all showed up and gave it our all, and that’s something to be proud of,” Bechel said. “We leave here with a new sense of purpose.”
Christopher Cobb, lead instructor of the Truck Driver Training program, led the graduates in a truck driving oath, declaring their commitment to professionalism, responsibility, and safety.
“You spent countless hours learning the skills, the rules, and the responsibilities that come with operating a commercial vehicle, but beyond all the technical training, there is one value that stands above the rest in this industry: safety,” Cobb said. “It’s what protects the drivers around you, and it’s what upholds the integrity of this profession.”
Cobb also recognized Bechel as the student with the highest grade point average in the graduating class.
The eight graduates, listed by city of residence, are
Goldsboro
Cody A. Bechel
Herode Bien-Aime
Emilio B. Creswell
Charod M. Higley
Demar R. Worrell
Mount Olive
Guivenson Lolo
Pikeville
Ruth H. McNair
Seven Springs
Ernesto Cardenas
Graduates of the Truck Driver Training program can expect to earn from $40,000 to $60,000 annually in their first year with an established company. Employment is available locally, regionally, and nationally in various industries, in governmental agencies, and by self-employment.
The program’s next course will run from May 6–Aug. 6. Classes will be held from 6–10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 7 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturdays.
A list of enrollment requirements, as well as details about the program, can be found at https://www.waynecc.edu/truck.
For more information about the Truck Driver Training program, contact WCC Workforce and Community Service Programs Coordinator Lisa Newkirk at 919-739-6931 or ldnewkirk@waynecc.edu.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.