This month, the Next Generation in Trucking (NGT) Foundation is launching the NGT Curriculum Companion to support high school CDL programs nationwide. The Curriculum Companion, which is free to NGT members and sponsored schools, provides five parts of online modules aligned with entry-level driver training (ELDT) standards, along with classroom activities, videos, handouts, and assessments for educators, NGT announced. The Curriculum Companion is made to support high school teachers in facilitating a yearlong CDL course and prepare high school students to successfully complete the CLP exam after they turn 18.
“Imagine how different our industry would look and feel if trucking was a first career choice for more people,” said Dave Dein, co-founder of the Next Generation Trucking Foundation and teacher at the high school CDL program in Patterson, California. “Ten years from now, we'll look back at this point back as this defining moment in the trucking industry when high schools took a proactive approach and provided the highest level of training for our students.”
Teffany Dominguez, a current student in the CDL Patterson program, said, "I want to be a truck driver because it's a career with unlimited possibilities. There's so much freedom and opportunity in it, and I can't wait to meet the amazing community of truck drivers."
Developed with Education Development Center (EDC) and funded through a grant from Knorr-Bremse Global Care North America (KCBNA) and the PepsiCo Foundation, the new online resource is designed to be used in conjunction with online ELDT courses for adult learners, while adapting materials for high school students and providing hands-on activities. The course materials incorporate information from SafeWork Training: Powered with Worklete (injury prevention) and The Supply Chain Fitness Company (health and nutrition). The course includes lab hours with driver simulation training and golf cart backing skills. It also features field trips, guest speakers, and industry engagement opportunities.
See also: NextGen Trucking secures grant to create high school truck driving curriculum
Recent alumni are also finding success. Ricardo Jimenez, a program graduate and now a trucking company owner, said, "Going into high school, I didn't even consider being a truck driver. I thought it wasn't a real career and that there was no passion or vision in it. However, after a friend convinced me to take the trucking course at Patterson High School, I not only developed a passion for trucking, but I also learned about the impact that truck drivers have around the world,” Jimenez said. “The trucking program at Patterson High School changed my life, and it has changed the lives of many other students who have enrolled in the course. I believe that with more programs like this across the country, we can inspire more young students to find their passion in trucking.”
The Curriculum Companion can be accessed at NGT's website. For more information about the Next Generation in Trucking Foundation, the new resource, or to inquire about CDL programming at your local high school, contact Lindsey Trent or Dave Dein at [email protected].
