ABOUT SOUTHWEST TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING

Southwest Truck Driver Training is a family-owned and -operated driving school with locations in Arizona and Nevada with a human-centric philosophy for student success. Read on to learn more about who we are and what we're all about!

Learn more about our locations.

WHAT WE DO AND THE SOUTHWEST DIFFERENCE

Southwest Truck Driver Training runs Commercial Driving Training Programs to help drivers get their careers moving. We offer CDL A, B, C, bus training, and other training. Learn more about the programs we offer.

What sets us apart? We at Southwest Truck Driver Training provide ever-evolving, student-focused truck driver training with the needs of our students at the front of our minds:

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SMALL CLASSES

We keep our class sizes small to get to know our students and their unique needs.

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UP-TO-DATE AND CUSTOMIZED TRUCKS

We invest in brand-new vehicles for our students to learn in each and every year, and these vehicles are specially modified for a better learning experience.

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CERTIFIED ON-SITE EXAMINERS

We provide state-approved CDL testing services on-site. In addition, our relationships with employers are about positivity, not promises. As a Southwest Truck Driver Training graduate, you're under no obligation to any future trucking employer.
 
In designing our programs, we go above and beyond the minimum requirements. In fact, we instituted the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements well before the rules took effect.

SOUTHWEST TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

We post our philosophy all over our campuses. Though it all boils down to loyalty, integrity, and respect, we take it further with this expression of our ethos:
 

Our student is…
The most important person on the campus.

Not a cold enrollment statistic, but a flesh and blood human being with thoughts and emotions like our own.

Not someone to be tolerated so that we can do our thing.
You are our thing.

Not dependent on us.
Rather, we are dependent on you.
Without you, there would be no need for us.

 
If you ask any of our employees what makes Southwest Truck Driver Training different, they'll tell you it's "the people and the environment."

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OUR HISTORY

Southwest Truck Driver Training has been a family-owned business since 1999.

That year, Gary P. Williams and a handful of family members and friends got the school rolling. In the decades since, Southwest Truck Driver Training has opened CDL training schools in Tucson, Phoenix, and Las Vegas and built a program serving their students, their communities, and local employers.

Gary is no longer with us, but his sons have kept his dream of a student-focused truck driving program alive.

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Southwest Truck Driver Training instructors undergo a rigorous interviewing process, ensuring each is an excellent fit in capabilities and our school culture. Of course, they must have worked as professional drivers with excellent records. But they must also be ready to lead their students with passion, empathy, and good humor.

Trainers must also be lifelong learners, ready to move beyond "the way we've always done it" and gain new skills as they go through their teaching careers.

Many of our instructors are military veterans, some of whom have seen active combat. If you're a veteran, chances are you can find someone who understands your experiences and how they may differ from the average student's.

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OUR TRUCKS

We are SO excited to tell you about the trucks you’ll be training on as a student at Southwest Truck Driver Training! While many trucking schools use vehicles older than some students or only offer the option to train on automatic transmission vehicles, we do things differently.

Our vehicles are updated every year—we get rid of the old and bring in the new. Each truck is custom-modified to ensure that a driver, trainer, and up to two additional students can safely maneuver throughout the campus and city while learning. The observing students get to sit in comfortable chairs (with seatbelts) and use a secure table to write notes.

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While the trucking world is increasingly automatic, manual trucks are still used. Sometimes they're preferred by companies. Other times, they're preferred by drivers. We make sure our students have the option to train on either, so they can walk into a conversation with their preferred employer and say, "Yes, I've driven this type of truck."

Oh, we also have buses and straight trucks!

And we can guarantee that if someone sees a Southwest Truck Driver Training vehicle, they know it! Our vehicles are new, efficient, and, to say the least, unique. If you ever see us out and about, feel free to give us a wave!

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Awards and Recognition

Southwest Truck Driver Training has received many awards and other types of recognition. These awards relate to our work with veterans and promotion of safe driving practices.

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Meet Our Staff

Tucson

AdriNegrete

Adriana Negrete

Receptionist / Career Services

AnitaLehnus

Anita Lehnus

Instructor

BobbieCarroll

Bobbie Carroll

Instructor

BradyKolenovsky

Brady Kolenovsky

Assistant Training Dept. Manager

Chandler-Shaw

Chandler Shaw

Admissions Representative

DanLipich

Daniel Lipich

Instructor

DaveAcevedo

David Acevedo

Instructor

JohnFigueroa

John Figueroa

Admissions Representative

KristenTurgeon

Kristen Turgeon

Training Department Manager

LuisaKirkbride

Luisa Kirkbride

Instructor/Examiner

Mark Henley

Mark Henley

Director

SamanthaCorrales

Samantha Corrales

Student Services/Career Services

ShaneMorey

Shane Morey

Instructor

ThomasAllen

Thomas Allen

Instructor

Gayla Anne

Gayla Anne

Retired – we thank Gayla for over 6 years of service with SWTDT!

GregFlynn

Greg Flynn

Retired – we thank Greg for over 8 years of service with SWTDT!

Phoenix

Alexis Ullery

Alexis Ullery

Career Services

Brad States

Brad States

Admissions Representative

Charles Olsen

Charles Olsen

Instructor

Darlene Weisenburger

Darlene Weisenburger

Training Department Manager

David Staudenmire

David Staudenmier

Lead Instructor

Dina Hoehn

Dina Hoehn

Students Services

DemetrioMartinez

Demetrio Martinez

Instructor

Erik Engdahl

Erik Engdahl

Campus Director

GilbertoGomezPerez-Instructor

Gilberto Gomez Perez

Instructor

IvanMuraffo

Ivan Marruffo

Instructor

Jim Hancock

James Hancock

Instructor

Jorge Mejia

Jorge Mejia

Instructor / Examiner

Justin Bamba

Justin Bamba

Lead Instructor

Ken Barton

Ken Barton

Instructor / Examiner

LoriGuzzetta-Instructor

Lori Guzzetta

Instructor

Ray Shively

Ray Shively

Retired/Part-Time Instructor

RosieLopez

Rosie Lopez

Admissions Representative

Shannon Medina

Shannon Medina

Receptionist

TabithaBaxter

Tabitha Baxter

Instructor

Tom-Bragg

Tom Bragg

Instructor

WarrenZeigler

Warren Zeigler

Admissions Representative

Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson

Retired – we thank Bob for a great 13 years of service with SWTDT!

North Las Vegas

Alfred Collins

Alfred Collins

Instructor

Tony

Antonio Kincaid

Instructor / Examiner

bo-clark

Bo Clark

Instructor

Bryan_Spencer

Bryan Spencer

Campus Director

David

David Sandoval

Instructor / Examiner

DebraDahan

Debra Dahan

Admissions Representative

Dwayne

Dwayne Walker

Instructor / Examiner

Joey

Joey Pou

Instructor

Malindi Stokes

Malindi Stokes

Instructor

Matthew Doucette

Matthew Doucette

Instructor

Ryanne Leota

Ryanne Leota

Career Services

ScottReeves

Scott Reeves

Instructor

Shar

SharE’ Lee-Castine

Admissions Representative

SilviaE

Silvia Emilan

Student Services

Open new doors with our unique CDL training & lifetime job placement assistance

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