Shifting Gears for the Future

Mataliya Campbell regularly drove past Sage Truck Driving Schools while commuting in her home city of Ft. Pierce, Florida. One day, she decided to stop in and ask about the training they provide. As a new single mother, her thoughts were on the future.

“I started thinking about how I can make a good, stable life for me and my son,” she said. “I had heard that truck driving and earning a CDL could provide that. So, I stopped in at Sage and was able to talk to them about what they offer.”

What made all the difference, she said, is the flexibility Sage offered so that she can continue working in her current job. “They were willing to work with me. I attend Sage in the mornings three days a week and then work evenings and weekends.”

Now in her fourth week of the CDL training program, Mataliya says its one of the best decisions she’s ever made.

“Everybody was so nervous when we first started,” she said. “I was nervous about being able to drive an 18-wheeler – can I really do this? But the instructors at Sage are so great. They have helped all of us build up the confidence through the program and I love it.”

“I am usually the only woman around in class or when I’m on the driving range, but that doesn’t intimidate me,” Mataliya said. “If anything, I hope more women would think about a truck driving career.”

“Mataliya has shown incredible determination and focus throughout her training. Balancing work, school, and being a new mother is no small task, yet she comes to class ready to learn and to challenge herself every day,” said Lizzette Rosa, School Director at Sage Ft. Pierce. “Her confidence behind the wheel has grown tremendously, and it’s inspiring to watch her push past nerves and step into her future. I have no doubt she’ll succeed in this industry and set a great example for other women considering trucking as a career.”

Balancing school and work has not always been easy, but Mataliya’s mother has stepped in to help care for her young son while she completes the CDL program at Sage.

“It’s a lot to manage, but I know this is an investment in myself and my future,” she said. “Financially, I’m paying for the program out of pocket, so things are tight right now.”

That’s why Mataliya was overjoyed to learn that she had been selected for a $1,000 Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship. 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 Mataliya Campbell as a recipient of the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship,” said Rob Howes II, President of Howes Products. “Her excitement and commitment to pursuing a career in trucking embodies the very spirit of this program and we look forward to seeing her succeed as part of the next generation of trucking professionals.”

“Thank you so much to Howes. I am most grateful,” Mataliya said. “This scholarship helps take a weight off my shoulders.”

Looking down the road ahead, Mataliya will focus on local or regional jobs after she passes the CDL licensure exam.

“The program at Sage is worth it. On days when I found myself lacking motivation because of the demands of juggling work and school, I just think about my son. I’m doing this for my future—and his.”