Building the Next Generation of CDL Drivers: How Northeastern High School’s DRIVE Program is Changing the Future of Transportation
Interview with Chad Forry, Teacher at Northwestern High School in York County, PA
The world of transportation is changing fast — but if there’s one constant, it’s the need for skilled, dependable, and safety-minded drivers. Yet for too long, the path into trucking and logistics has been hidden behind barriers like age requirements, industry stereotypes, and a heavy cultural emphasis on college degrees.
That’s why programs like DRIVE at Northeastern High School in York County, Pennsylvania, are so groundbreaking.
On a recent episode of the Caution: Wide Right podcast, host Luke from Compliance Navigation Specialists (CNS) sat down with Chad Forry, the creator and champion of DRIVE, to talk about how the program is giving students not just a license, but a future.
What they discussed offers a powerful look at how education, industry partnerships, and a focus on both technical and soft skills can truly reshape career opportunities for young people.
A Program Rooted in Opportunity
When you walk into the DRIVE classroom, it’s clear this is more than your average driver’s ed course.
Here, students don’t just learn how to parallel park or pass a basic road test. They prepare for something much bigger — obtaining their CDL permits, earning a Class B CDL license, and building a foundation for a lifelong career in transportation, logistics, and supply chain industries.
At a time when many students struggle with the crushing costs of college or find themselves trapped in first jobs with little upward mobility, DRIVE offers an alternative path. It shows students that high-paying, in-demand careers exist outside the traditional four-year college route — careers where you can move up quickly, take on responsibility, and even become a leader in your community.
As Luke pointed out, if companies wait until students are 21 to start recruiting, they are missing out on motivated, hard-working individuals who could be game changers for their organizations.
The DRIVE program bridges that gap, starting the conversation — and the training — early.
From Vision to Reality: Chad’s Journey
Chad Forry didn’t set out to revolutionize transportation education. He started simply, studying health and physical education in college. But thanks to a professor’s suggestion to add a driver’s ed certification, he found his passion for helping young people safely navigate the roads — and life.
By 2017, Chad realized there was a deeper need. There was no high school CDL training program that could truly launch students into the transportation world. With the support of his principal and the school district, he took a major leap: earning his own CDL license so he could teach more than just theory — he could prepare students for real-world success.
Initially, DRIVE started small — focused on helping students pass their CDL permits through classroom-based learning. But it quickly grew into something much more powerful.
A huge reason for DRIVE’s expansion was the help of local businesses like Keystone Trailers and the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA).
When Chad was asked, “What would you really need to take this program to the next level?” he didn’t hesitate: forklift simulators, CDL driving simulators, and real equipment for hands-on practice.
Thanks to these partnerships, students now have access to:
- Advanced CDL driving simulators that mirror real road conditions
- Forklift training equipment
- Gaming setups for early skills development
- Even a real box truck for practicing road skills
Instead of just imagining what trucking is like, students experience it — safely, thoroughly, and with expert guidance.
It’s not just about driving a truck. It’s about understanding safety, critical thinking, and professionalism in a high-stakes environment.
Market Positioning and Customer Relationships
Luke:
Diversification has its place, but playing to your strengths is key. How do you approach market fluctuations and customer retention?
Ryan:
Our philosophy is to be the top carrier in our customers’ network. If you’re in the top one or two carriers, you’re more insulated during slow periods compared to being on the fringes at position five, six, or seven.
Our sales process is long, and we’re not pushy. We consistently check in with customers every few months, reminding them that we’re here when they need us. It can take two or three years to secure a new customer, but once we do, we work hard to align with their needs.
We aim to be an extension of our customers’ businesses. They may be manufacturers, but they’re not in the trucking business—that’s our job. Understanding their core values and pain points allows us to provide solutions that make their lives easier. It’s not bulletproof, especially in this tough freight market, but it has helped us stay stable.
Beyond the Skills: Building Character for Life
What truly sets DRIVE apart isn’t just the technical training — it’s the emphasis on durable skills that last across any career path.
As Chad and guest Ryan (from CNS) emphasized, most companies don’t struggle because employees lack technical knowledge. The real breakdown often happens because of missing soft skills like:
- Dependability
- Emotional intelligence
- Critical thinking
- Personal responsibility
- Safety awareness
Programs like DRIVE teach these lessons every day. Whether students ultimately stay in transportation, move into logistics management, or apply their skills elsewhere, these durable skills stay with them for life.
When an employer sees “DRIVE Graduate” on a resume, they’re not just seeing a license — they’re seeing a young person trained to think ahead, stay safe, show up on time, and solve problems under pressure.
Real-World Impact: Success Stories from the DRIVE Program
In just seven years, DRIVE has already made a significant impact on the York County community.
Chad shared stories of former students who:
- Became supervisors at local townships by age 22
- Work as yard jockeys and forklift operators at major regional employers like Pitt Ohio and STC
- Use their CDLs to support careers in fields like welding and fabrication
Many graduates don’t necessarily stay behind the wheel forever — but they always have that CDL as a powerful fallback option. As Chad put it, “They’ll never be without a job if they maintain a good CDL record.”
Addressing the Truck Driver Shortage — The Right Way
Everyone in the transportation industry is talking about the looming driver shortage. With the average truck driver now between 45 and 55 years old, a huge wave of retirements is just around the corner.
Yet solutions aren’t just about filling seats quickly. They’re about finding quality drivers — people who are safe, responsible, and committed.
That’s where DRIVE shines. By starting early, by training well, and by focusing on both technical and human skills, the program is creating the kind of workforce the industry truly needs — not just bodies, but future leaders.
As Luke pointed out, there are hundreds of trucking and transportation companies within a 100-mile radius of York County. Opportunities abound — and programs like DRIVE ensure that the next generation is ready to step up.
Changing the Mindset Around Trucking Careers
The conversation kicked off by addressing a major challenge facing the industry: driver shortages. But instead of framing it as a doom-and-gloom situation, they emphasized an exciting point — the transportation industry is booming, and it needs smart, skilled people in every area, not just behind the wheel.
Getting a CDL doesn’t pigeonhole you into a life of endless driving. It opens doors. It can be the gateway to logistics, fleet management, vehicle maintenance, warehousing, accounting, entrepreneurship, safety and compliance, and more.
“This is just a start. If something interests you, keep pursuing it. You don’t know where it could lead,” one instructor said, reflecting on their own unexpected journey from driver’s education to becoming a CDL instructor.
In areas rich with transportation hubs, warehouses, and manufacturing, students can pivot into countless roles — and having a CDL or other transportation certification gives them a huge advantage.
Looking Beyond Paychecks: What Truly Matters in a Career
For students thinking about their futures, compensation is naturally top of mind. But the speakers encouraged a broader view: what makes a job fulfilling over the long term?
They broke it down into three key elements:
- Autonomy – Having the freedom to make decisions and solve problems independently.
- Creativity – Finding new ways to approach challenges, meeting diverse people, and crafting your own path.
- Purpose – Knowing your work makes a difference, such as keeping goods moving and supporting the economy.
The trucking industry offers all three in abundance. Whether managing routes, coordinating loads, running your own business, or simply navigating life on the road, there’s an independence and meaning built into transportation work that few industries can match.
And there’s a practical bonus: transferable skills. With a CDL or logistics background, you can move almost anywhere in the U.S. and find employment opportunities. It’s a resilient career path in an ever-changing economy.
Skills That Set Students Apart
A major takeaway for young people (and their families) considering this path: pursue certifications and skills, not just jobs.
“Get hired for a job that builds your skills or gives you a certification,” one educator stressed. “That’s the difference between a career and just another job.”
Schools that offer forklift training, OSHA certifications, and CDL licensing give students real-world credentials they can leverage immediately after graduation.
At their CDL school, partnerships with major companies like Walmart show just how much the industry values qualified candidates — offering paid training programs and clear career advancement paths from warehouse positions to behind-the-wheel careers and beyond.
The Importance of Getting the Right Credentials
When it comes to CDL licensing, the conversation emphasized future-proofing your career. For example, even if a student is considering “hot shot” trucking with a pickup truck and gooseneck trailer, earning a Class A CDL can be a wise move.
“Even if you’re not required to have it now, having a Class A opens the door to move up if you want to later. You’re already credentialed and ready.”
Additional endorsements like hazmat certification, passenger transport, or tanker endorsements can also significantly expand a driver’s options — allowing them to pivot into specialized, higher-paying roles down the road.
Inside the CDL Classroom: Building Real-World Skills
The day-to-day structure of the CDL program offers students an immersive experience. With block scheduling, students split their time between:
- Classroom learning, preparing for key written exams like the general knowledge and air brake tests.
- Simulator time, providing seat time behind the wheel of professional-grade trucking simulators.
- Hands-on training, practicing real-world skills like backing, pre-trip inspections, and air brake checks on actual trucks.
One highlight? The simulators used in the high school program are the same ones used in top professional training programs across the country. This gives students a true taste of what it means to operate commercial vehicles safely and effectively.
And their reactions are clear: excitement. Whether it’s getting behind the wheel for the first time, mastering the intricacies of a pre-trip inspection, or realizing the seriousness and pride that comes with operating heavy machinery, students are engaged.
Driving a commercial vehicle isn’t just about handling a big truck — it’s about carrying a tremendous responsibility.
Every truck driver is responsible for not just their own safety, but for everyone else they share the road with. That’s why pre-trip inspections, defensive driving, and attention to detail are emphasized heavily from day one.
“Every time you safely pass another vehicle, you’re making sure someone gets home to their family. We don’t take that responsibility lightly.”
Even for students who decide trucking isn’t for them, the lessons in safety, responsibility, and situational awareness have lifelong value — whether they’re towing a boat, driving an RV, or hauling a trailer for a family camping trip.
Students’ Misconceptions: “Gone Are the Days of Only Long-Haul”
One of the first barriers educators see is the belief that trucking is exclusively a long-haul, solitary life on the road. As Mr. Fry from Northeastern High School put it:
“Unfortunately, a lot of times they think you’re going to be away all week. I try to show them the industry’s changed—you can be home every night, have a social life, and still have a great career.”
The trucking industry today is diverse and adaptable. Students are learning that they can choose between local delivery jobs, regional routes with minimal overnight stays, and even specialized sectors like construction transport, school bus driving, waste and recycling, or medical logistics. CDL holders can work for municipalities like PennDOT or take roles in private industries that don’t fit the traditional “trucker” mold.
What’s more, the credentialing they earn—the CDL—is a valuable professional license that can open countless doors beyond driving a tractor-trailer.
Even among adults entering the industry, the misconceptions run deep. As Chad pointed out during the discussion:
“I had a very narrow vision of a truck driver when I was younger. But trucking draws in people from all walks of life: doctors starting second careers, immigrants seeking a new beginning, and young people chasing autonomy and purpose.”
The trucking world isn’t a “one size fits all” environment. Instead, it’s an ecosystem rich with diverse stories—each driver contributing to a vital, thriving industry. Trucking attracts those who value independence, problem-solving, and seeing tangible results from their work, while developing transferable skills that can carry over into countless other careers.
Employers' Misconceptions: “Why an Apprenticeship Model Matters”
On the employer side, there’s sometimes a hesitation to embrace young, newly credentialed drivers. Some companies expect students to be “job ready” on day one without offering transition support.
“What we need is more companies offering apprenticeship-style programs,” Mr. Fry emphasized. “We’re getting them to a starting point. Now they need a bridge into the workforce.”
Apprenticeships, internships, and field trips to job sites make a huge difference. These experiences give students real-world exposure, set expectations properly, and help companies build a reliable pipeline of new, safety-focused drivers.
What’s Next: Expanding Career Pathways Even Further
Looking ahead, Mr. Fry shared a vision for expanding beyond CDL training:
- Warehouse management training for students interested in logistics but not necessarily driving.
- Forklift operation certifications for those who want to stay local but still be in the transportation sector.
- Internship programs to help seniors transition into the workforce while still finishing their education.
Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Fry wants to start reaching students even earlier—introducing transportation careers to middle schoolers so that by the time they reach high school, they already see trucking, logistics, and transportation as exciting, viable career paths.
If you’re a parent, educator, or business leader wondering how to bring a trucking or logistics program to your local school, Chad offered this advice:
- Talk to the principal or a teacher you know.
- Ask if the district has an Education Foundation.
- Propose the idea of partnering with local businesses to fund innovative career programs.
Public education’s mission is to equip students for success—and career readiness in fields like transportation is critical to our future economy.
