September 21st 2023.
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Gladys and Gary Godley, owners of the WorldLink Truck Driving Academy, are making history in Arkansas. They are the only Black woman-owned trucking institution in the state, and now they are partnering up with a local HBCU to diversify the industry and provide employment opportunities to Black students.
The Godleys are collaborating with the Arkansas Baptist College Adult Education program to give students an alternative option to traditional career paths. “I saw after their first year, a lot of them didn’t actually graduate, so we’re picking up that slack for those who thought they wanted to go to a four-year college or wanted to make that commitment,” said Gladys, a former high school teacher.
The program is highly affordable, with everything included within the $5,000 tuition fee. Debra Baker, director of Arkansas Baptist College Adult Education, said, “It’s about $5,000, which includes the actual tuition, the cost for the permit, the books — everything is included within that $5,000.”
The Godleys’ mission has so far been a success, with WorldLink Truck Driving Academy boasting a 90 percent graduation rate. Gary Godley said, “Now you can get your CDL [commercial driver’s license] and you can start making anywhere from $45- to $80,000 your first year.” According to the Arkansas Trucking Association, more than 44,000 truck drivers are employed in the state, with approximately 26 percent of them being non-white.
In response to the nationwide 25 percent dropout rate of first-time undergraduate college freshmen, secondary education institutions are starting to implement career days for high school students. This is to reduce the stigma associated with trade schools and other alternatives. In Arkansas, the dropout numbers are 124 percent higher than the number of undergraduate students.
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