On a Friday afternoon, Darick walked into the Baytown location of 160 Driving Academy to meet with Jennifer, the Branch Manager. By Monday morning, he was already in a classroom—his professional driving career officially underway.
“Met with Jennifer… on Friday afternoon, and was sitting in the classroom on Monday morning beginning my professional driving career.”
From the start, Darick noticed the difference. There was no confusion, no waiting, no gaps in the process.
“Jennifer is always on top of every piece of the entire process… and sets you up for physical, drug screen, and written test appointments with the DMV without delay. She is truly top notch!”
The classroom week moved quickly—not because it was rushed, but because it stayed engaging. Darick leaned in, took every practice exam available, and stayed locked into the instruction each day.
“The 40 hour classroom training was interesting. That made the week go by fast.”
When test day arrived, the preparation paid off.
“I passed all parts of the written exam on the same day, and even passed the tanker endorsement.”
Out in the yard, the pace picked up. The 120-hour hands-on portion wasn’t just about learning maneuvers—it was about learning how to think like a professional driver.
“The 120 hour training at the yard was also a very exciting and fun experience.”
Darick trained with instructors who brought decades of real-world experience to every lesson.
“They each shared their many real life experiences… the good, the bad, and the ugly!”
Pre-trip inspections became second nature through constant repetition and testing.
“We were taught how to conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection, and were tested many times. I can sing the pre-trip inspection in my sleep.”
Road training was demanding—but calm, controlled, and intentional.
“All of the instructors have more patience than the Pope, and are always calm in every situation.”
Overseeing it all was Mr. G, the training lead at the HOU2 yard, keeping structure and accountability front and center.
“He runs a tight school.”
Safety wasn’t theoretical. When something looked off, training stopped immediately.
“Safety is always top priority at all times! They teach safety, they practice safety.”
“You would hear the whistles blow… shut down the trucks and muster to hear what Mr G had to say—and what he had to say was always valuable.”
By the end of the program, Darick didn’t just earn a CDL—he earned confidence in his skills and judgment.
“I can’t say enough good things about my experience. I got my CDL, and enjoyed every minute of the training process.”
This is what it looks like when training is structured, instructors are invested, and safety is non-negotiable.
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