The Trucking Cares Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to the South Dallas Driving Academy, continuing its support for a nonprofit that provides free driver education and commercial driver training to low-income teens and young adults in South Dallas.
According to the foundation, the latest contribution builds on several years of financial support for the program. The Trucking Cares Foundation provided $15,000 in seed funding to help launch the academy in 2021, followed by a $20,000 donation in 2023 and another $25,000 contribution in 2024.
The South Dallas Driving Academy was inspired by the story of Germany Williams, who grew up in an impoverished neighborhood before earning his commercial driver’s license and changing the course of his life. His journey was later featured in a documentary produced by Nothing Without Trucking.
As the program has expanded, supporters say it has helped remove barriers for people pursuing careers in transportation.
“The South Dallas Driving Academy has been instrumental in removing barriers to rewarding careers in our industry,” said Greg Owen, chairman of the Trucking Cares Foundation and head coach of Ability Tri Modal. “By equipping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills and credentials they need to succeed, SDDA is helping to create opportunity, strengthen communities, and build the next generation of trucking professionals. The Trucking Cares Foundation is proud to continue supporting this life-changing program.”
Leaders at the academy say continued support from the trucking industry has allowed the organization to grow while reaching more people throughout the community.
“Our vision has always been to create an on-ramp to opportunity for underserved members of our community,” said Chris Petersen, president of Rally Fleet Services and chairman of SDDA. “Thanks to the support of the Trucking Cares Foundation, not only have we been able to serve hundreds of individuals in South Dallas, but we are currently working with community leaders to expand into new markets across Texas and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Greg Owens, the entire TCF Board, Chris Spear, and the American Trucking Associations for their continued support of this important initiative.”
The academy also reports continued progress within its commercial driver training program.
“The support of the Trucking Cares Foundation has been catalytic in advancing the mission and impact of the South Dallas Driving Academy,” said Von Minor, president and executive director, SDDA. “Over the past year, we have seen 20 men and women graduate from our commercial driver’s license program and launch into living wage career opportunities as professional drivers. The Trucking Cares Foundation’s support is helping to dismantle generational poverty one driver at a time, allowing our programs to truly drive lives forward.”
According to the Trucking Cares Foundation, nearly 40% of low-income individuals living in urban areas across the United States do not have a valid driver’s license. In South Dallas, that figure approaches one half of the population, largely because affordable driver education is often difficult to access.
The South Dallas Driving Academy was created to address that challenge through a dual-track training program that helps participants earn a driver’s license while preparing for careers in transportation. The program is offered at no cost to residents of Bonton and South Dallas, and the organization reports a student course completion and program graduation rate of 90%.
Additional information about the South Dallas Driving Academy, its training programs, and the Trucking Cares Foundation is available through the organizations’ official websites.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: July 1, 2026
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: SDDA
