Gentry, Ark. – Gentry High School students had the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of a big rig—virtually—thanks to a hands-on event hosted by the Arkansas Trucking Association. Through the use of the SAFE1 driving simulator, students experienced real-world trucking scenarios and gained valuable insights into career opportunities in the transportation industry.
Led by members of the Arkansas Road Team—professional drivers with millions of miles of safe driving experience—students navigated challenging simulations such as snowstorms, heavy traffic, and tight maneuvers. The event aimed to educate students about both safety on the road and the daily responsibilities of commercial truck drivers.
This experience is part of the ATA’s Share the Road program, which is offered to schools at no cost through funding from the Arkansas Highway Commission and the Arkansas Commercial Truck Safety and Education Program.
In addition to the hands-on driving experience, students learned about the vast career potential in the trucking industry. With over 100,000 trucking jobs and 9,680 trucking companies in Arkansas alone, the opportunities are significant. The average annual salary for truck drivers in Arkansas is $54,658.
“We’re grateful to the Arkansas Trucking Association for bringing this opportunity to our students,” said Melissa Fulmer, Gentry High School’s College and Career Coach. “This event not only provided an engaging learning experience, but also opened our students’ eyes to viable and well-paying career paths they may not have considered.”
Special thanks to drivers from J.B. Hunt and ArcBest for volunteering their time and expertise to lead the simulations and share their stories.
For more information about the Arkansas Road Team or the Share the Road program, visit www.arkansastrucking.com.
Media Contact:
Mark Scott
Director of Community Engagement
mscott@gentrypioneers.com
479-264-0103