Veteran, Howes Scholarship Winner Finds Career Path at SAGE Truck Driving School

For years, Corey Holt was in search of the kind of work that he could turn into a career. He tried construction and warehouse jobs, and even spent time in school studying to be an airline mechanic. But while each experience taught him something, none of them quite fit.

“I’ve been doing all kinds of odd jobs just trying to find something I could do for the rest of my life,” Corey said. “Nothing really stuck.”

Then trucking came back onto his radar, an idea that had quietly followed him since his younger days.

Now training at Sage Truck Driving School in San Antonio and earning a $1,000 Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship, Corey is building momentum toward a career that blends stability, travel, and long-term opportunity. And so far, his experience at Sage has confirmed he’s found the right path.

A Familiar Feeling from the Past

Corey’s interest in trucking isn’t brand new. While serving in the Army years ago, he spent time driving trucks and discovered he genuinely enjoyed it. The experience lingered as he struggled to find his footing in other jobs.

“It’s something I’ve thought about on and off for most of my adult life,” he said.

Lifestyle is a big part of the appeal, Corey said. Following his training at Sage, he hopes to begin with over-the-road (OTR) driving, which offers the constant motion and new scenery he craves in his life.

“I feel like being somewhere new,” he said. “It’s adventurous. You’re seeing the country, and you have a chance to save some money.”

He also sees a practical side to the truck driving profession. It’s in demand, and it offers the long-term stability other jobs are lacking.

“There’s always going to be a need for it,” he said. “No AI (artificial intelligence) will be taking my job.”

Choosing Sage Over Other Schools

When Corey began researching CDL programs, he toured several schools. What ultimately set Sage apart, he said, was its connection with the truck driving industry.

“A lot of the literature on the walls came from trucking companies that said Sage was the school they liked to work with,” he said. “I didn’t really see that at other places.”

He was also impressed by the long-term support offered to graduates, including lifetime access to job boards across multiple locations.

“It felt like a school that’s going to be in my corner not just now, but later on, too,” he said.

In his first month of training and his first week behind the wheel, Corey said the experience has managed to exceed his expectations.

“It’s going great,” he said. “I got to work on straight-line and offset backing, and I feel like I’m picking it up pretty quickly.”

He credits much of that progress to his instructors, who focus on both the mechanics of driving and the reasoning behind each maneuver. Instructors Frank Voiers and Richardo Lopez have been especially helpful in his development.

“In the classroom, Frank was really good at explaining how things work and sharing real stories from the road,” Corey said. “It made everything feel real, not just slides on a screen. And [Richardo]… he lets me arrive at conclusions of my own, which is huge in the learning process.”

Financial Relief at the Right Time

Corey admits that enrolling at Sage came with some financial uncertainty. Though his GI Bill covered about 80% of his tuition, the remaining gap still left a heavy burden.

“I was really stressed out about how I was going to come up with the rest,” Corey said.

That changed when Sage San Antonio School Director Candi Delaughter encouraged him to apply for the Howes Truckers of Tomorrow Scholarship. Receiving the $1,000 award gave Corey the breathing room he needed.

“We are proud to recognize Corey 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.”

“It was a huge weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I could focus on training and getting experience instead of worrying about how I was going to pay for everything.”

Beyond the financial help, winning the scholarship helped shift Corey’s mindset.

“It helped my mental state,” he said. “It made it possible to move closer toward my goals.”

These goals include a year or two of building experience and saving money through OTR driving. After that, he hopes to transition into regional routes that will allow him to spend more time at home.

As for anyone considering a similar path, Corey’s advice couldn’t be more straightforward.

“I’d say go to Sage,” he said. “It’s just a great school.”