RCC’s Truck Driving Academy continues producing drivers for the workforce

With two major hurricanes hitting back-to-back, demand for truck drivers has spiked. Drivers are greatly needed to assist with the emergency response and relief efforts in the Mountains of North Carolina and Central Florida. The shortage of drivers has already been felt across the country, now with major disaster areas formed by Helene and Milton, the shortage will surely become even greater.

“Truck drivers aid in the delivery of emergency supplies to areas impacted by the storms,” stated Braxton Ballard, the director of transportation programs at RCC. “They also assist with shipping items to people who have become displaced as they tried to seek a safe place out of harm’s way… the need for supplies, goods tend to go up before and after a storm as we typically see an uptick in orders.”

With many roads washed out across the southeast, getting the items to their destination is proving to be a challenge. I-40 is projected to remain closed until 2026, increasing the mileage a driver must take as they go cross country, but that isn’t detouring students like Cindy Bell or Aaron Eddings from signing up to receive their CDLs and complete the 480-hour truck driving academy at Robeson Community College.

Cindy Bell

“I jumped out on faith to build up my business, and I’ve done just that,” stated Bell. “Completing my CDL’s has opened up new opportunities for me and my business.”

Bell operates Tarheel Excavating, which specializes in dump truck services. With her CDLs in hand, she can now add new trucks, including an 18-wheeler to her fleet.

“I’m amplifying my business by having CDLs,” Bell said, who is 55 years old. “I had a great experience at RCC.”

Bell has nothing but praise for the instructors she had, saying, “The instructors don’t make you feel uncomfortable, they took the time showing you what you needed to learn and taught us how to drive.”

“Mr. Braxton Ballard, Mr. Deon Mitchell, and Ms. Demetria Wesley, they were all great instructors,” Bell stated. “Mr. Dion was a complete gentleman and went out of his way for all of us in the class… those three instructors are crucial to the program…and even though I was the oldest person in the program, they gave me the same respect as everyone else, and I made it to the top of the class.”

Bell, whose daughter lives in Boone, says she has seen the ways that Hurricane Helene has impacted the region.

“It has impacted a lot of people, it’s impacted the industry, it’s a stressful time,” Bell said. “There are a lot of displaced people, a lot of missing people…  roads in Boone and Blowing Rock have opened, but everything else is closed.”

Bell who already has an established relationship with the NCDOT says she “can be at all jobs” and is considering traveling to the mountains to assist.

“I’ve got all my paperwork ready,” Bell said.

Aaron Eddings

At the age of 29, Aaron Eddings felt that getting his CDLs would be one of the best paths he could take. He just recently graduated from the Truck Driving Academy at RCC.

“CDLs will help you out more in the long run than anything else,” Eddings said. “I’m in the process of getting my hazmat endorsements so I can get a better-paying job.”

Similar to Bell, Eddings says his time in the program was well spent.

“My experience was really good, the instructors are great, very, very great,” he said. “I feel like it was a well-taught program, everyone was very encouraging, I have told all my buddies about and I highly recommend RCC.”

“If you have a problem, they will take time out for you to help you understand,” Eddings added.

With the recent events in North Carolina and Florida, Eddings says he would consider an opportunity to assist with relief efforts.

“I would be interested in delivering supplies,” Eddings stated. “I know how that feels, being from Robeson County and having gone through several Hurricanes. Those people are in desperate need and they could use all the help they can get right now.”

Eddings feels that the two major disasters and the closure of I-40 are impacting the trucking industry in many ways and that it will probably limit opportunities in the short term.

“That’s the problem with finding a job right now,” Eddings said, as he is still looking for work.

“It’s going to be hard to find an over-the-road job, but maybe in a few weeks things will open back up. There are a lot of roads closed and that’s just bringing everything to a standstill.”

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Closer to home, as Ballard prepares for his next class of students, he sees how important his work is now than ever before.

“Truck driving is one of the most vital occupations in our country,” Ballard said.  “You cannot buy a product until a truck delivers it, and as we see now, truck drivers are the ones delivering supplies to those hardest hit areas, and we just have to continue to do our part in making sure we graduate qualified drivers that can work in any industry and maybe even one day, be a part of an emergency response team.”

As for the closure of a major roadway that connects the East Coast with the West Coast, Braxton had this to say.

“Students understand that road conditions change and that you have to adapt to the environment you are dealing with,” Ballard said. “That is one of the things we teach our students and we try to prepare them for any kind of scenario that they may see on the road, whether that is changes in traffic patterns, adverse weather conditions, construction, or natural disasters.”

In all, Robeson Community College graduated 16 students from its most recent truck driving academy this fall, and Ballard says they are all ready to hit the road and start making a living. And, for some graduates, that road may lead them on a path to making a difference in a hard-hit community like Asheville, Lake Lure, Waynesville, Tampa Bay, Orlando, or Fort Pierce.

“Today I say congratulations on completing the first step of your journey,” Ballard told graduates. “You worked hard and laid a foundation for your future.  Now it’s up to you how far you go on this journey.  Hard work and dedication will be required … but the rewards you reap will be worth it… Godspeed on your journey!”

Those who graduated from the RCC Truck Driving Academy include Callie Al’razzaq , Cindy Bell, Rikeem Buie, Brandon Carter , Tyron Carter, Bilaal Coles, Jordan Cox, Aaron Eddings, Micheal Lewis, Zachery Lockee , Justin Locklear, Bruno Munoz, Holden Pierce, Ashly Riley, Nicolas Trejo, and Aquila Armstrong (not pictured).  

To learn more about the truck driving program at Robeson Community College, please visit www.robeson.edu/transportation.