Racheal Neal had worked for Flowers Bakery in the Grant Park area of Jacksonville for 20 years, primarily as a machine operator in shipping and receiving, when she was laid off by the company along with several others – including her husband Willie, who had 30 years with the company.
“I was devastated, because this was a place I was preparing to retire from, and it happened just before Christmas last year,” she said. “I didn’t know where to start as far as starting a new career. I knew I wanted to do something new, but wasn’t sure what.”
Her husband, who had decided to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), had previously visited the CareerSource NEFL Gateway Career Center.
“He decided to go another route to get his CDL more quickly so he could start earning for us, and he had some driving experience…having worked in shipping at receiving at Flowers,” she said. “After he earned his CDL, Willie came up with the idea for me to get a CDL too and suggested I visit Gateway as well,” she said.
At the center, she met CareerSource NEFL Workforce Representative Cheryl Scott, who helped her obtain funding as a dislocated worker to help pay for CDL Training.
“I went in in February,” Neal said. “Working for a company for so long, I didn’t know where to start, but she helped me with the whole process and we found a program that funded the training and allowed me to pick any school I wanted to attend, I did some research and chose National Training Inc., which was the best decision I ever made. It’s a very good school.”
National Training was just an hour away from her home, the course took only four weeks to complete – and the company even helped her with job placement after she graduated in June.
“They were very patient with me, since I had no knowledge of truck driving in the beginning,” she said.
Since her husband had chosen to be an over-the-road CDL driver, Neal wanted to operate on local routes so she would be close to home.
“I chose to go with the cement company Quikrete,” she said. “It’s different from what I did before, but I really enjoy it. After working inside a building for so long, I enjoy being outside on my own. I’ve met some amazing people since I started here, they all have been so helpful and welcoming.”
Most of her routes are around Jacksonville, but some are on the outskirts of the city.
“I’ve driven to Gainesville and got to see Quikrete’s plant, and some routes out to Yulee and St. Augustine, but that’s the type of routes I was looking for,” she said.
Neal says she and her husband have a goal: to gain the experience they need to start their own trucking company in the future.
“I really appreciate Cheryl Scott and CareerSource NEFL for helping me with funding and recommendations so I could find my next career path,” she said. “To the next person you meet who’s unsure where to start to find a new career, I’d say start with CareerSource NEFL to help you on that path.”