From a young age, Bridgette Scoggins knew she wanted to be a truck driver but was often told it would be too tough for her to enter the male-dominated field. For fourteen years she served as a correctional officer and was the primary source of income for her family before deciding it was time for a change. For the next two years she worked at a warehouse, always thinking about the possibility of a career in long haul trucking.
Bridgette was inspired to sign up for Goodwill’s North Texas Institute for Career Development’s CDL Professional Truck Driver Training course after hearing about the program from her brother who had also signed up. With Goodwill staff, she was able to find financial assistance and enroll. Bridgette spoke highly of her time in the program, “Goodwill helped me in so many ways. From the starting paperwork through graduation, I never felt alone. Any question I had was answered, I always felt like I was being pushed to be my best and do right.”
Bridgette obtained her CDL license and found employment soon after graduating, but realized she needed a flexible schedule that would allow her to spend more time with family. To ensure she found success, Goodwill worked with Bridgette to find a job that she loves and fulfill her childhood dream. “If not for them I know I would have never gotten here. I love being a female in this profession… I like being able to show others that it doesn’t matter who you are, as long as you work hard you can do it.”