From Army Strong to Road Tested
Casey Cook Makes a Right Turn to Become a CDL Instructor
By John Tompkins
When Casey Cook finished his service in the U.S. Army, he was unsure of his next step. Having enjoyed mentoring fellow soldiers in many aspects of military life, he sought a new direction. A friend suggested he try driving a semi-truck.
"So, I took his advice and would never go back," Cook said. "From the moment I honked the air horn in that truck, I knew this was where I needed to be. The reputation of Alvin Community College solidified my decision, and now I'm working my dream job as an instructor."
Cook chose the CDL program due to its strong reputation. "ACC has one of the best pass rates among Texas driving academies," Cook said.
After completing his training at ACC, Cook drove for various trucking and logistic industries across the state of Texas.
"For the last three years, I've seen nearly every aspect a truck driver could deal with, all so I could become the best driving instructor possible," he said.
As a student, Cook assisted his peers, prompting ACC CDL coordinator Jimmie Munk and instructor August Power to note his potential as an instructor.
"They both said I could become a great instructor one day," Cook recalled. "I took that to heart, gained as much experience as I could, and aimed to return to ACC to train great drivers like Jimmie and August do on a daily basis."
"It's great to have a former student training with me," said Munk. "He can relate to students and suggest methods to help them avoid pitfalls and mistakes because he was once there in their shoes. "
Now, he looks forward to helping students succeed on the road.
"I have students who struggle like I did—grinding gears, missing shifts, stalling the truck," Cook said. "I remember making the same mistakes, and my instructors having endless patience."
Beyond training skilled drivers, Cook hopes to revive the trucking industry's culture.
"My goal is to bring back the culture where commercial drivers were the most courteous and skillful on the road," he said. "We strive to put the absolute best drivers on the road, so people say, 'Man, I wish we had more like that out here.'"
Students in the CDL program come from all walks of life—recent high school graduates, older students, veterans, and those looking to turn their lives around.
"Nothing feels better than seeing that big grin when they step out of the truck after their test, knowing I had something to do with that," Cook said.
Please visit the CDL program to learn more.