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Congratulations to Amanda Lytle for completing the first CDL Truck Driving Apprenticeship at Sargento

Feel Good Friday: First Sargento CDL Truck Driving Apprentice completes program

5 months ago Less than a minute to read

 

“Amazing! I had the best mentors, Marty and Steve for OTR! Doug, Jeff, and Jimmy for local,” shared Amanda Lytle, when asked about her experience as she completed the first CDL Truck Driving Apprenticeship at Sargento. “My other fellow truckers were generous in offering guidance or assistance. Everyone is a phone call away and always willing to lend a hand. We have such an extraordinary team!”

In February 2023, the Sargento Transportation and Truck Driving Leadership Team made a decision to add new opportunities for people to grow into our truck driving careers. This decision was driven by the truck driver shortage across the country and the fact that there are not enough drivers to replace those who are retiring. Our new apprenticeship program aims to fill the gaps providing talent with the skills our company needs. The 12+ month program requires taking a 200-hour CDL behind the wheel class, earning a CDL license, and completing at least 2,000 hours of behind the wheel training first with a mentor and then on their own.

According to Amanda, the best part of this experience is driving the iconic Sargento cheese truck! "Representing Sargento across the country is a fun job. Just the other day a (non-Sargento) driver reached out over the CB and said he couldn’t pass up a slice of Sargento cheese, it’s his absolute favorite. I, of course said kick it up a notch with our fiesta pepper string cheese!”

Amanda is looking forward to continuing to grow as a commercial driver and experiencing new places. She encourages all Sargento employees who are interested in becoming a truck driver to 'just do it!' 

“Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Amanda.

In almost 18 months, Amanda has driven over 150,000 miles and is looking forward to driving many more!

At Sargento, we continue to create innovative talent pipelines, by offering apprenticeships and other effective on-the-job training programs, and providing meaningful mentorship opportunities. Programs like these will continue to support the Sargento Family with skills to continue to grow as a company, enhance our culture of developing our employees, and serve as a leader in our industry and communities.