Scholarship Recipient Driving Toward New Opportunities

For the past two years, Freddy Reyna has worked at A&I Distributors in Billings, Montana, running the company’s diesel exhaust fluids plant. There, he spent his days unloading rail cars, transferring product into storage tanks, and filling barrels and totes for distribution to other companies.

And while the job provided steady work, but Freddy knew he wanted something more. That’s when he pursued a trucking career by enrolling at Sage Truck Driving Schools in Billings.

“For one, I want to make more income,” he said. “And I just feel like trucking would be a good industry to have a career in. There are a lot of opportunities in it, and once I get my CDL, I’ll always have a job somewhere that pays pretty well.”

Freddy’s training, hard work, and focus as he works toward earning his commercial driver’s license has already paid off. He recently earned a $1,000 Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship, which is awarded by Howes Products to support new drivers entering the industry.

Finding the Right Fit

Freddy first heard about SAGE from a former coworker who used to teach there.

“I told him I wanted to get my CDL, and he said, ‘You should just go to SAGE. They’ll train you well, and it’s a good school to go to,’” Freddy said.

That recommendation stuck with him. When the time came to make the leap, SAGE felt like the right place to build the skills he needed for the next stage of his career.

“It’s going good,” he said. “I’m learning a lot from the instructors. Right now, I’m working on the manual — learning upshifting, downshifting — and I’m out on the road. It’s all coming together.”

Freddy’s set to complete his program later this month and says the training has exceeded his expectations. He credits much of his progress to the instructors who’ve guided him along the way.

“So far, I really like the instructors,” he said. “They’ve all been really good to me. They’re helpful, and the information they give me … it just soaks right in. Everything they say just clicks.”

That sense of connection and encouragement has helped Freddy stay confident and motivated as he works through the final stretch of training.

A Scholarship That Made a Difference

Freddy first learned about the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship when he first enrolling at Sage.

“Christina told me about it and said there was a $1,000 scholarship available,” he said. “I think it’s a very good opportunity for someone when they’re going to school. It’s really helpful.”

For Freddy, the award provided some much-needed financial relief.

“It means a lot,” he said. “That thousand-dollar scholarship definitely takes a load off my plate and gives me some breathing room.”

The Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship program is designed to inspire and assist new drivers like Brett who are working hard to enter the industry. It’s part of Howes Products’ ongoing effort to strengthen the future of trucking through education and community support. Since 2015, Howes Products and Sage Truck Driving Schools have been proud to offer the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow $1,000 Scholarship Program, contributing more than $300,000 to worthy Sage students. The scholarship is funded by Howes and can be applied for at all Sage Truck Driving Schools across the country. 

“We are proud to recognize Freddy as a recipient of the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship,” said Rob Howes II, President of Howes Products. “His excitement and commitment to pursuing a career in trucking embodies the very spirit of this program and we look forward to seeing him succeed as part of the next generation of trucking professionals.”

After graduation, Freddy plans to keep working for A&I Distributors, but in a different role.

“They’re going to start me over the road,” he said. “I’ll be in a two-year contract with them, which will be nice.”

It’s a big step forward, and one for which Freddy feels prepared thanks to the training and encouragement he’s received at SAGE.

His advice for anyone considering the same path?

“Listen to your instructors, be willing to learn, and get out of your comfort zone,” he said. “Keep an open mind.”

With his CDL just around the corner, Freddy is proof that the right training and support can open the door to a whole new road ahead.