I would like to personally introduce you to Roads2Work, a 501(c)3 organization I founded in 2016. While operating my commercial driver training academy in Columbus, OH, I was continually confronted with low income members of our community who wanted to participate in the commercial driver boon in the United States. Commercial drivers continue to be in extremely high demand, and the wages and benefits are “life changing” for those who obtain their commercial driver license (CDL) and become gainfully employed in the industry. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no programs in place that provided funding for those who need it most, nor were there programs in place that properly addressed the specific needs in order to prepare and train them for a commercial driver career in the transportation industry.
I was motivated to develop and implement a program that would ensure anyone who had the desire and commitment to become a commercial driver would be able to participate in this great career opportunity. Roads2Work is my way of helping change the lives of low-income individuals, their families, and their communities, including the unemployed, under-employed, and restored citizen members of our community.
Roads2Work got its start in Columbus, OH (Franklin County) as a pilot program funded by Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services. The program featured a private-public partnership between IMPACT Community Action, who provided career readiness training and case management, and Capital Transportation Academy, who provided the commercial driver skills training. The program pilot was extremely successful with 95% graduation and CDL obtainment rate. Starting average wages are $50,000 – $60,000, plus benefits, and the program was a huge success prompting the Franklin County Commissioners to approve additional funding for the 2019-2020 fiscal period to train an additional 75 commercial drivers.
My goal, and my passion, is to introduce the Roads2Work commercial driver training program, and its proven success, to your agency, and your community, so that many more low income program participants who are unemployed, under-employed, or restored citizens can change the lives of their family and community through the in-demand career of commercial driving!
Please email me at rcrockett@roads2work.org to learn more about Roads2Work and to schedule an introductory meeting at your agency. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing our story!
