A year ago, Dylan Terry and his wife were evicted from their apartment after both lost their jobs. They were forced to move in with his in-laws, which added strain to an already difficult situation. As bills piled up and neither of them could find work, their family fell into debt. Dylan was at a loss, unsure of what to do next.
His father-in-law, a CDL driver with over 30 years of experience, suggested that Dylan consider a career in truck driving. At first, Dylan was skeptical; he had no prior experience in the field and was apprehensive about trying something so different from what he was accustomed to. The idea of forgoing income for seven weeks while he pursued the CDL program was daunting, but after many heartfelt discussions with his wife, she encouraged him to take the leap. She promised to support him both financially and emotionally as he embarked on this new path.
Dylan’s journey began with attending IET Bridge classes for 12 hours, followed by an evening pre-program class. In October, he went through orientation and started the CDL program with the North Texas Institute for Career Development (NTI) on November 27, 2023. Initially, it was challenging knowing that his wife was carrying the financial burden, but Dylan pushed himself to stay focused on his daily tasks. The program instilled in him a newfound confidence, and he even found himself supporting a fellow student by sharing his knowledge and easing her anxiety during testing.
On February 9th, Dylan proudly earned his CDL Class A license and secured a job with Schneider Trucking. He completed all his formal training and, on May 1st, was set to receive his truck and start his career on the road. The journey made a profound difference in his life.
Dylan is deeply grateful for the support and opportunities provided by Goodwill. His story is a testament to perseverance and the belief that if he can do it, anyone can.