AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 18, 2025 — Leaders from GAR Foundation visited Stark State College’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training facility in Akron in November, gaining an up-close look at the College’s efforts to meet growing regional workforce needs. The group toured the facilities and even test-drove several commercial vehicles to experience firsthand the skills required to earn a CDL.

The visit showcased a unique collaboration between philanthropy, education and business. Earlier this year, GAR made a significant investment in Stark State’s CDL program, supporting expanded training facilities and workforce-focused programming. Two members of GAR’s board of directors attended the visit, including former Roadway CEO Jim Staley.

Staley and fellow board member Brad Schroeder spoke with instructors about the program’s hands-on approach, training requirements, flexible class scheduling and strong job placement outcomes. The program currently serves approximately 220 students annually and maintains an over 95% licensure pass rate, the highest in Ohio.

Stark State’s CDL program is designed to help individuals enter an in-demand field in a matter of weeks, addressing a persistent shortage of commercial drivers across the region. Current labor market figures from the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation show the state needs to fill more than 9,300 (annual) truck driver openings, placing this occupation on Ohio’s Top Jobs List.

The collaboration between Stark State and GAR highlights a broader regional effort to strengthen workforce development through strategic partnerships. Stark State built its Class A and Class B Commercial Truck Drivers programs with the help of key industry partners seeking more and better-qualified employees to help grow logistics and/or trucking businesses in Northeast Ohio. The College’s CDL program advisory board continues to provide best practices and helpful feedback as the program grows to meet industry demands.

“The need for tractor-trailer drivers is high in Ohio and across the nation,” said Para M. Jones, Ph.D., president of Stark State College. “We’re proud to meet that need with one of the best CDL programs in the state. The GAR Foundation supported the start-up of our CDL program and continues to provide scholarships to enable more northeast Ohio residents the opportunity to pursue CDL careers.”

Danielle Haney, HR Manager for Contractors Choice Ready Mix (CCRM), recently hired Stark State CDL program graduate Quentin Turner. “I think the skills Quentin learned at Stark State really set him apart from other new hires because he needed significantly less training than anyone else. He showed up on his first day ready to work hard and learn about the ready-mix concrete industry,” she said.

For GAR, the visit aligns with its mission of advancing educational opportunity and community prosperity. The foundation’s investment in CDL training reflects its focus on supporting programs that connect residents in the region to stable, well-paying careers. It also aligns with the foundation’s longstanding ties to the trucking industry; GAR was founded in 1967 by Roadway Express co-founder Galen Roush and his wife, Ruth.

“Stark State’s CDL program is a powerful example of how education can open doors to stable careers. The training happening here helps residents step into in-demand jobs and strengthens the talent pipeline that keeps our regional economy moving. We’re proud to support this work and to see its impact firsthand,” added Christine Amer Mayer, President, GAR Foundation.

For more information on Stark State’s CDL program and/or collaboration with GAR, contact Collyn Floyd, director of marketing and public relations, at cfloyd@starkstate.edu.

Pictured from left: Eric Evans, CDL Training Manager, Stark State College; Mike Conway,  Department Chair, Automotive, Transportation, and CDL Technology Division, Stark State College; Jim Staley, GAR Distribution Committee Chair and retired Chief Executive Officer, Roadway; Brad Schroeder, GAR Distribution Committee Member and Chief Executive Officer, ACRT Services, Inc.; Para Jones, President, Stark State College; and Lindsey Loftus, Vice President of Advancement, Stark State College.