Taking to the Open Road

Climbing into the cab of a big rig is a huge step up, the average truck sits nearly five feet off the ground. But more than the physical is the mental side of driving such a big vehicle, which means keeping an eye on everyone else and trying to anticipate what might happen.

“You have to constantly be checking your mirrors,” Noah Mendoza said with a smile. “I’m just excited to get out there and driving.”

Driving is something Mendoza is used to; he makes the drive to Tulsa Tech’s Broken Arrow campus every day from Vian. The dedication he makes to complete the 150-mile round trip daily commute for his career training is worth it, since he can use a benefit from his stepfather’s military service.

“My stepdad is a retired Marine, so I can use what is called chapter 35 here,” he said. “It helps pay for my school and the cost of driving back and forth.”

The Professional Truck Driver Training program is five months of rigorous classroom and driver preparation, but students are ready to leave the program and go straight into the workforce day one.

“If you want to be the best you have to train with the best and Tulsa Tech is one of the best schools out there,” Mendoza said. “After just three months, I already have a job.”

For Mendoza, his next step is to join the team at Maverick Transportation. However, he has his eyes set further down the road.

“I am excited to start with Maverick and hopefully will be able to get my HazMat certification in a few years,” he said. “Then who knows, I might start my own trucking company.”

The first trucker in his family, Mendoza says that his biggest point of pride is just getting behind the wheel and being a safe driver. But when asked what it’s like to back up a trailer compared to the viral videos of people backing boats into water, he had to laugh.

“The trailer is a lot bigger than a boat, so it moves a lot slower,” he said with a grin. “But it still takes a lot of skill to fit into those tight spaces.”

Now with the training he needs and his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in hand, Mendoza is set to hit the open road but knows he has plenty of options.

“Once you have your CDL, you can choose what type of truck you want to drive. I told my mom it’s like going to a buffet, you can find the job that fits your needs,” he said.

So, if you are ready to take the next step up or seeking a totally new career, Tulsa Tech can help. With more than 80 full-time career training programs and thousands of part-time classes, there is a program to fit your needs.