Taking the Scenic Route

Genesee County – In August of 2022, Malachi eagerly met with his Career Coach to discuss his aspirations of becoming a CDL-A driver. He expressed his excitement at embarking on this journey, which had been his long-standing dream. However, he acknowledged that various barriers had prevented him from achieving this dream alone. Although Malachi was employed as a seasonal plow driver with a pay rate of $19.00 per hour, he soon realized the importance of having a stable and long-term career path due to the unpredictable nature of his work schedule.

Subsequently, he met the eligibility requirements and qualified for the WIOA program. With assistance from his Career Coach in removing barriers along the way,  he was able to complete the CDL A training at the 160 Driving Academy successfully. In June, Malachi was offered OTR employment as a CDL-A truck driver with Nick Strimbu Inc., a family-owned truck company based out of Brookfield Township, Ohio.

While we hated to see Malachi leave the state of Michigan, the  annual salary offer of $75,000 was understandably enticing! He takes great pride in his accomplishments! He expresses deep gratitude towards GST Michigan Works! for providing him with the opportunity to pursue his career aspirations. He is loving the opportunity before him to travel with his trusty canine companion!