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TDDS News
Donate
Your Semi-Tractors
or Semi-Trailers
Our students will utilize the donated vehicle either in our
Truck Driver Training or Diesel Technician Training programs.
DONATE IT TO TDDS TECH!
Our students will utilize the donated vehicle either in our
Truck Driver Training or Diesel Technician Training programs.
It’s a tremendous way to give something back to the
Educational Community that has brought you
so many great new faces into the Industry!
For more information on how you can help, call our
School Director, Rick Rathburn a call at 1-800-475-8337
Because TDDS, Inc. is a for-profit school, there are no tax benefits.
It just feels good to give something back!

FRED E. LAWSON AND DEBORAH L. MULLINS
TDDS 2007 GRADUATES OF THE YEAR
FRED E. LAWSON
Fred E. Lawson of Bristolville, Ohio is one of two 2007 TDDS Graduate Drivers of the Year. Fred attended the 23 Weekend Truck Driver Training Program at TDDS Technical Institute in March of 2005. Werner Enterprises took him on as a pre-hire that same month and on July 25th, 2005, Fred passed his CDL exam. He began his Externship with Werner in August 2005 and graduated in September of the same year.
What made Fred standout for this award was his constant achievement. While in school, Fred had a 90.5% average, was a three-time Honor Roll Recipient, received recognition for perfect attendance and was named Outstanding Truck Driving Student. After completion of his Externship, Fred continued to work for Werner, and he continued his self-tradition of excellence. Not only was Fred able to become a Certified Driver-Trainer for Werner Enterprises, but also is one of very few who is a trainer for female drivers. That’s quite an honor, showing that Fred is not only professional, but a gentleman as well. With his success at Werner, TDDS decided to make Fred a member of their Truck Driver Training Program Advisory Committee. Fred provides crucial input about the training of our students while in school and how we can improve our curriculum to train safer, more prepared drivers for the industry.
Werner has so much confidence in Fred’s abilities they have him work at our Career Days and stop in during Bob Fisher’s Company Recruiting Presentations. It’s nice to see Fred when he stops into the school, because he normally has one of our grads with him. Most impressively, he’s so positive about what he is doing for a living.
DEBORAH L. MULLINS
Deborah L. Mullins is our other TDDS Graduate Driver of the Year. Debbie, a Niles, Ohio resident also went through the 23 Weekend Truck Driver Training Program. Deb began her training in March of 2001 and was per-hired by Arrow Trucking in June. That same August, Deb obtained her CDL license and began her Externship working for Arrow. After her graduation in September of 2001, she was hired by P.A.M. Dedicated Services. Less than two years later, she became a Certified Driver Trainer for the company, and is one of very few women to excel in this capacity, and excel she does.
Mullins exhibited an aptitude for perfection from the beginning of her training. During the classroom portion of her training, Deb achieved seven 100% perfect scores on various tests and had an overall Grade Point Average of 89.0%. She was awarded Honor Roll status three times while in school.
After her driver trainee period with PDS, Deb ran team for a while before taking a regionalized position with PDS, which eventually worked into her Driver Trainer job. Her fellow staff members love her because she does such a wonderful job and continuously goes above and beyond what is required of her. She truly enjoys her job as a Trainer and plans to retire from PDS.
Deb is the proud mother of A.J., her son who was only 15 at the time she was attending school, and is now 21. She also keeps company with four adopted companion dogs, Smokey, Wrinkles, Buddy and Hobo. Not only is Debbie a single mom who purchased her FIRST home after she began driving, she also cares for her mother, Maxine, a.k.a. “Truckin’ Mama.” A nickname given because on occasion, her 70 year old mother goes trucking with Deb.
For those of you that do not know, Deb was our vending machine person for five years before she decided to take the plunge and enroll in our truck driving program. We really liked having her as our delivery person, but we really love having her as an ambassador of TDDS Technical Institute.
Congratulations to Fred and Deb on their continued success in the industry and many thanks for representing TDDS Technical Institute. We are very proud to recognize them as they embody the principles and professionalism of a TDDS graduate.
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Industry News
Driver Training Pay for Veterans
from Transport Topics, July 2, 2007
American Trucking Association's new Chairman Ray Kuntz is pushing for legislation that would allow veterans to receive accelerated tuition assistance to attend truck driving schools. "For transitioning veterans with military occupational specialties in these areas, professional truck driving may be a natural career path," Kuntz told the House Veterans Affairs' Subcommittee of Economic Pooprtunity June 21 of this year.
Under the current G.I. Bill, G.I.'s recieve monthly payments for tuition, and accelerated payments are possible for only high-technology programs. Therefore, for truck driver training programs that range from less than one month to only a few months, the G.I. Bill's monthly payments don't come close to covering the cost of training. As a result, the current system is "an inefficient funding mechanism for truck driver training programs," stated ATA Chairman Kuntz.
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Company Spotlight!

THE
TAKE HOME MORE, BE HOME MORE CARRIER
Terminal Locations:
California, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin
Drop Yards
Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania,
Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin
Type of Operation:
General Commodities - Van, Curtainside or Flatbed
1st Year Average Pay:
$40,000
Benefits:
Tuition Reimbursement up
to $6,000, Paid Vacation, Holiday Pay, Major Medical with Rx Card,
Life, Disability, Dental,
401k, Tractor Purchase Policy, Rider Policy
Contact Info: Dottie
Zitello, TDDS Tech @ 800-475-8337
Roehl Recruitment: 877-207-1251
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Alumni Album
CUMMINS OUTSTANDING DIESEL STUDENT AWARD WINNER
Congratulations GREG SMITH
TDDS Diesel Tech Grad
Greg Smith, January 2007 TDDS Diesel Tech Grad, has been selected as the Regional winner of the Cummins Outstanding Diesel Student Award. To be eligible for the award, students must complete the application which includes a written essay. Instructors nominating their student for the award must submit to their Cummins distributor a letter of recommendation for that student along with the student's application form. Winners were chosen, based on the following criteria:
- GPA
- Completion of Insite 6 Virtual College program
- Other Cummins Virtual College Training CDs completed
- Instructor evaluation
- Written essay
- Must be a graduating student
- Must be 18 years of age by June 1, 2007
Greg also excelled as a student at TDDS, earning the TDDS Perfect Attendance and Citizenship Awards. Greg currently resides in Deerfield, Ohio with his wife Amy and daughter, and he's employed full time as a Diesel Technician for PAM Dedicated in North Jackson, Ohio.
We at TDDS congratulate Greg on his accomplishments, and send our best wishes to him in his future endeavors. We are always proud to have graduates like Greg as representatives of our school.
Alumni News is made possible by our
graduates. If you have some good news, a picture, special event,
etc, that you
would like to
share please contact us at (330)
538-2216, 800-475-8337, email us at info@tdds.edu or
by U.S. Mail - P.O. Box 506, Lake
Milton, Ohio 44429.
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