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

The post NGT’s Train the Trainer Event Builds Stronger Foundations for CDL Education appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Addressing a Critical Need

As NGT President and Co-founder Lindsey Trent explains, engaging younger generations is essential to the future of trucking. “These award winners are tackling one of the industry’s most pressing challenges,” Trent said. “They’re leading the way in demonstrating how to build career paths that young people not only want to begin but stay in.”

Honoring Innovation

The inaugural Career Catalyst Awards, sponsored by The National Transportation Institute, highlight fleets redefining recruitment and retention strategies. These forward-thinking companies have implemented initiatives such as offering CDL and diesel mechanic training, providing career advancement opportunities, and leveraging technology to make roles more efficient and appealing.

2025 Career Catalyst Award Winners:

• Alaska West Express
• Averitt
• Ben E. Keith Foods
• Boyd CAT
• Cal Valley Trucking
• Christenson Transportation
• Garner Trucking
• Ginsberg’s Foods
• Keller Trucking
• Kenan Advantage Group
• Key Oil
• Old Dominion Freight Lines
• Performance Food Service
• Republic Services
• Ryder System
• Upper Lake Foods

Building the Pipeline for Future Talent

Efforts by Career Catalyst Award winners include outreach programs such as high school and community college partnerships to launch CDL training, host student tours, and promote leadership development. “It’s about meeting young people where they are,” Trent emphasized. “Technology, advancement opportunities, and creating a vision for a long-term career are critical to engaging this demographic.”

Next Gen Trucking’s founder, Dave Dein, actively works to advance these efforts. “High schoolers are hungry for alternatives to traditional career paths,” he noted. “These awards highlight companies that provide those very opportunities, showing there’s a meaningful future in trucking.”

The Urgency of Youth Engagement

“Nearly half of today’s workforce is made up of Millennials, but they only account for 20% of the trucking industry,” said Leah Shaver, CEO of NTI and NGT board member. “It’s crucial to attract younger talent. The fleets recognized this year prove we can succeed in this effort.”

What’s Next for NGT?

Founded in 2021, NGT has partnered with schools and colleges nationwide to launch CDL programs for young adults. The organization aspires to cement trucking as “the career choice” for future generations by showcasing the importance of trucking and delivering on career promises.

For more details about the Career Catalyst Awards and NGT’s initiatives, visit nextgentrucking.org.

Source: The Trucker

The post NGT Recognizes 16 Fleets with Career Catalyst Awards for Inspiring the Next Generation in Trucking appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.