Programs that prepare future professional drivers do not succeed on lesson plans alone. They succeed when instruction is consistent, practical, and fully understood by the people delivering it. That belief is at the core of the annual Train the Trainer event hosted by the Next Generation in Trucking Association, scheduled this year for June 1 to 2, 2026, in Patterson, California.
The event is designed to ensure that the tools used to prepare students are not only available, but implemented the right way, from day one through program completion.
From a Single Program to a National Framework
The trucking program at Patterson High School became the starting point for a much greater effort. As the program evolved, a key question emerged: how could its structure and success be shared in a way that other schools could realistically follow?
The answer became a comprehensive curriculum guide.
Three years ago, NGT secured grant funding, supported in part by the Knorr-Bremse Group and the PepsiCo Foundation. Working alongside the Education Development Center, the association developed a free, turnkey curriculum designed to support both new and experienced instructors.
The guide laid out an entire program framework from start to finish, offering schools a tangible roadmap instead of isolated lesson ideas.
Why the Guide Alone Was Not Enough
Providing a curriculum without instruction on how to use it created another challenge.
“We see the curriculum guide in the same way we see giving a new driver information on how to drive a truck: A little information can be deadly if not fully understood and mastered before going out onto the road.”
Leaving implementation open to interpretation would have undermined the goal. That realization led directly to the creation of Train the Trainer.
Inside the Train the Trainer Experience
Launched alongside the curriculum guide, Train the Trainer is a two-day, in-person event held annually at Patterson High School. The focus is not just on what to teach, but how to teach it.
Participants work through the curriculum section by section, gaining hands-on exposure to program components such as simulator instruction, distracted driving demonstrations, and DUI awareness exercises using golf carts. They also have opportunities to speak directly with program graduates, offering real world perspective on how the training translates beyond the classroom.
Equally important is the network that forms during the event. Educators arrive from across the country, creating connections that often continue long after the training ends. Those relationships provide ongoing support, idea sharing, and reassurance for those building or expanding programs.
This year’s Train the Trainer event will be held June 1 to 2, 2026, in Patterson, California. Registration is available online at nextgentrucking.org/train-the-trainer.
Lessons That Reshaped the Program
The first year Train the Trainer was offered revealed an unexpected gap.
“I thought we were going to be teaching truck driving. I didn’t know we also had to teach proper lifting techniques, health and nutrition, leadership development, human trafficking, and so on.”
That moment made it clear that even motivated instructors can feel unprepared when asked to teach outside their prior experience. Confidence does not come automatically with a curriculum. It must be built intentionally.
The solution was individualized support.
The NGT Accelerate Training Program
To meet that need, NGT created the Accelerate Training Program, a multi-day training, coaching, and mentoring experience delivered onsite at participating facilities. The goal is to ensure programs are positioned for success from the first day instruction begins.
The Accelerate program includes, but is not limited to:
- Classroom setup focused on engagement and professionalism
- Instructor evaluations to identify strengths and improvement areas
- Community building strategies for the classroom
- Full implementation guidance for the NGT curriculum
- In-depth instruction across required and supplemental subject areas
- Setup and maintenance support for the FMCSA Training Provider Registry
- Industry partnership development
- Simulator integration strategies
- Guest speaker and field trip planning
- Short-term and long-term lesson planning
- Career fair development
- Demonstration lessons and observational assessments
Nominal fees apply. Additional information and scheduling details are available by contacting info@nextgentrucking.org.
Source: The Trucker
