RichmondCC Graduates Second Class of Truck Drivers

Dec. 5, 2016 - Twelve people are hitting the road with the foundation to be good, safe truck drivers after completing the nine-week truck driver training program offered at Richmond Community College in partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCCTI).

RichmondCC held its graduation ceremony Nov. 22 for graduates of the program who included Charles Breeden of Laurinburg, David Croke of Laurinburg, Echo Griffin of Ellerbe, Dennis Hailey of Aberdeen, Tyrhonda Leak of Rockingham, Tony Lockemy of Rockingham, Arthur Nichols of Rockingham, John Smith III of Hamlet, John Walsh of Laurinburg, Harold Williams of Hamlet, Holly “Cameron” Wright Jr. of Rockingham and John Wright Jr. of Wadesboro.

Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RichmondCC, welcomed everyone to the ceremony and acknowledged the collaborative effort to establish the truck driver training program at RichmondCC. This is the second class of truck drivers to graduate from the program.

“Today is a great celebration of our students’ success and our partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. A lot of people have worked really hard to make this happen, and I want to congratulate first and foremost all of the students graduating today. As they are launching into a new career, I wish you the best of luck,” McInnis said.

The nine-week program provides classroom lecture followed by many practice sessions behind the wheel. Upon completion of the course, students take a final road test for their commercial driver’s license at RichmondCC’s training facility.

CCCTI provides instructors for the class, including CCTI Director of Truck Driver Training Roger Chester who spoke to the graduates.

“Today belongs to these graduates because tomorrow they embark on a new career, a new career in truck driving. It’s a demanding job, but the reward is great. I want to thank the families who have supported these students, because it takes support of the family as they begin this new career. The person is not going to be there at the snap of the finger when you need them.”

Chester also offered these words of advice: “Keep your driving record and your personal record clean and you’ll have a job as long as you want.”

Sen. Tom McInnis, who was instrumental in securing the state funds to bring truck driver training to RichmondCC, also spoke at the graduation ceremony. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Today is the day you start to make a change and a difference in your life,” McInnis said.

He encouraged the graduates to strive to be at the head of their class, to be the best of the best in order to be successful in their truck driving careers. “First always gets you the highest price. So if you want to get the highest price, you always need to be the first, to be the best,” he said.

McInnis recognized a special graduate of the class who has “climbed a higher mountain than the rest of us.” Holly “Cameron” Wright Jr. became the second deaf truck driver in the state of North Carolina when he completed the program with the assistance of an interpreter, Carolyn Everette of Morganton. CCCTI arranged for the interpreter to attend the class every day with him.

“Cameron is living proof of what we can do, and we should all aspire to be like him to never let any stumbling block stop us from reaching our potentials and our goals,” McInnis said.

To Sign Up

For more information about the next truck driver training course, call (910) 410-1700.