South Georgia Technical College’s Commercial Truck Driving Program is a family legacy for the Smith’s

August 27, 2018
South Georgia Technical College CDL Instructor Robert Cook is shown above with the Smith brothers who all graduated from the SGTC CDL program. They are: Jonathan Jerome Smith, Antonio Alexander Smith, and Allen O’Neal Smith, Jr. Many other members of their family have also attended South Georgia Technical College. (Photo by Charley Varnum)
South Georgia Technical College CDL Instructor Robert Cook is shown above with the Smith brothers who all graduated from the SGTC CDL program. They are: Jonathan Jerome Smith, Antonio Alexander Smith, and Allen O’Neal Smith, Jr. Many other members of their family have also attended South Georgia Technical College. (Photo by Charley Varnum)

Allen O’Neal Smith, Sr. enrolled in the South Georgia Technical College Commercial Truck Driving program in the early 2000’s. His career choice had a big impact on his three sons, who nearly two decades later have all graduated from the same program and are making a good living behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.

Allen O’Neal Smith, Sr., probably wasn’t thinking about how his actions would affect his family when he first enrolled. He was just trying to find a good career to provide for his children. But 15-years later, his career choice is paying big dividends for the next generation of Smith’s.

Allen O’Neal Smith, Jr., was his first son to complete the South Georgia Technical College Commercial Truck Driving program. He graduated in March of 2015. His brother, Antonio Alexander Smith, graduated soon after in July of 2015, and just recently their brother, Jonathan Jerome Smith, graduated from the SGTC CDL program in August 2018.

“Pretty much everybody on my dad’s side of the family drove a truck,” said Antonio Smith. “I can remember riding with my father when I was seven or eight years old. At that time, I was not thinking about a career as a truck driver, but as I got older I decided that is what I wanted to do.”

Allen O’Neal Smith, Jr., was the first of the three brothers to graduate from the South Georgia Technical College Commercial Truck Driving program and he had nothing but praise for SGTC CDL Instructor Robert Cook. “Mr. Cook was a great teacher. He helped me get my license and now my life is totally different,” said Allen Smith. Allen and his brother, Antonio, are both driving for H & L Partners, Inc., out of Oglethorpe, Georgia. Both of them drive routes in Georgia but occasionally venture outside of the state.

Allen began driving a tanker truck for H & L when he first got his license. Then he graduated to a dump truck and now he is driving an 18-wheeler with a dump bed. When asked which one he liked best, he laughed and said, “I like them all. I am happy when I am driving. I enjoy seeing the country and meeting people. This is a great career and I am thankful to Mr. Cook and South Georgia Tech for helping me get my license.”

Antonio agreed with his older brother. “I am home every night. My routes are mostly in Georgia, but last week I made a trip to South Carolina. I get to choose how far I want to go. This is a great way to make a living.”
At one point during his classes, Antonio said he almost gave up. “Mr. Cook can be a little tough when he needs to be but when I thought about giving up, he helped me through a rough patch and now I have my license and am able to make a living driving a commercial truck.”

Both Allen and Antonio later encouraged their brother, Jonathan Jerome Smith, to follow in the family footsteps. And he has. He enrolled and just graduated with his CDL license in August 2018. He has already been pre-hired by McElroy Trucking Lines, Inc. out of Alabama.

“We recommend South Georgia Tech and the Commercial Truck Driving program to everyone,” said Antonio. “Right now truck drivers are in demand and if you like to drive, it is a great career.”

South Georgia Technical College Commercial Truck Driving Instructor Robert Cook taught all three of the Smith brothers. “We have had fathers and sons and husbands and wives and even brothers all come through our Commercial Truck Driving program,” said South Georgia Technical College CDL Instructor Robert Cook. “But this is the first time that I can remember that we had three brothers all graduate. I think this is just a terrific example of how South Georgia Technical College can make a difference in one person’s life as well as an entire family,” said Cook.

“Our program is growing by leaps and bounds. There are great opportunities for individuals who don’t mind driving. We are constantly receiving calls from businesses and industries who need qualified truck drivers. Some of the jobs are local and some of them are in the surrounding areas. Truck drivers today can almost choose whether they want to be home at night or travel during the week. There is such a demand for drivers that individuals can choose to be their own bosses or work for a big operation,” explained Cook.

South Georgia Technical College is currently enrolling students for fall semester. The first class of the semester is nearly full. The CDL program rebuilds itself every eight weeks. The program offers day and evening classes in both Americus and Crisp County. Commercial Truck Driving is one of the programs eligible for the Hope Career Grant. Individuals who are HOPE grant eligible qualify for an extra $1000 for tuition making the program nearly tuition free.

For more information about the South Georgia Tech Commercial Truck Driving program contact the SGTC admissions office at 229-931-2394 in Americus or 229-271-4040 in Cordele. Interested persons can also contact CDL Instructor Robert Cook at 229-931-2976 or rcook@southgatech.edu. More information is also available on the website: www.southgatech.edu.