ARMORED TRUCKING ACADEMY

Armored Trucking Academy By Bethany Sigler

The creation of Armored Trucking Academy has been a long time coming. Kris Grempler began CDL instruction while working for the Metro government in 2005. CDL licensure was mandatory for employees, but as Grempler watched friends and coworkers struggle to meet requirements, he began instructing.

What began as a one-on-one, peerto-peer volunteer instruction quickly changed into professional one-on-one instruction. Grempler became a state licensed CDL examiner and soon found his talents to better fit within the private sector. FedEx, MAC Trucking and more. Soon clients approached Grempler about opening his own school. Grempler’s method and quality of instruction was second to none.

Significant hurdles stood in the way of opening a private trucking academy. Primarily, the upfront cost is the reason there are not many privately owned and operated schools: it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. For that reason, the majority of trucking schools are owned by major trucking companies. The result is often a revolving door with high turnover and major burn out. Graduates are certified and put to work without any semblance of personal touch. ATA goes against the grain, and is founded on a culture of inclusion.

ATA is passionate and intentional about supporting our military. All staff, including instructors are either military spouses, veterans, or family of military. In fact, their students have a 75% soldier to civilian ratio. ATA helps with their transition. The 8-5 Monday-Friday class helps give soldiers structure as they transition out of the military.

Because of the frequency and duration of deployments, transitioning soldiers are also well suited to cope with life on the road. Grempler says, “Anyone can drive, that’s not the problem. It’s the mental side. Soldiers are prime candidates.” Working with Campbell

Strong, Armored Trucking Academy is partnered with CSP for transitioning soldiers.

When soldiers transition out of the military, often one of their goals is rapid integration to the workforce. Armored Trucking Academy excels in this arena. ATA recommendations are valued so highly that a few students have secured jobs locally with Budweiser (Hand Family Companies) even before graduating. Grempler expresses his thanks and gratitude to the Hand family for working so closely with ATA.

A stand out story for Grempler is ATA graduate, Ricky. Ricky enrolled in ATA while working nights at an industrial job here in town. Everyday he would go to class from 8:00am-5:00pm, then work at the factory from 6:00pm-6:00am.

During the two hours in-between work and class, Ricky would sleep in his car in the ATA parking lot. He was burning the candle at both ends, and then some, in order to provide a better life for his family.

One particularly rough day, Grempler called Ricky into the office. Ricky was visibly nervous and exhausted. Instead of requiring attendance at that day of instruction, Grempler sent Ricky home to rest. The next day when Ricky came to ATA, Grempler was able to present him with a job opportunity at Budweiser (Hand Family Companies). Overnight, Ricky’s life, reality, and prospects were fundamentally changed.

For Grempler, that’s the best part. He says, “It’s a dream. It really is. I have had this vision for years. I’ve always felt like my mission was to help people. There are still good people in this world. It’s what it has always been about and what it always will be about.”

For more information about Armored Trucking Academy, visit armoredtruckingacademy.com or call 931- 542-4323.