Driver Spotlight - Bryce Kern

Bryce was unemployed when he reached out to WorkOne, looking for direction and trying to figure out what came next. Before that, he had worked as a delivery driver for Amazon, and one thing had already started to stand out to him: he genuinely enjoyed being on the road. He liked the responsibility that came with driving and that experience planted the idea that a career behind the wheel might be the right fit for him.

That first step led to another. WorkOne connected Bryce to Fathers and Families and that connection changed the course of his life. Through their support, he found encouragement, practical help, and a stronger foundation for the future he wanted to build. Fathers and Families funded his CDL training, helped him complete the Strong Fathers program, and even provided gas cards so he could get to training consistently.

Today, Bryce has completed CDL training, built a real career, and stepped into a future that once felt out of reach.

Looking for a Way Forward

Before Bryce got into trucking, he was searching for direction.

He knew he liked driving. His time delivering for Amazon had shown him that much. There was something about the open road, the independence, and the responsibility of the job that appealed to him. But liking that kind of work and knowing how to turn it into a career are two very different things. At the time, Bryce was unemployed and trying to figure out his next move.

That is what makes his story feel so relatable. A lot of people do not start with a perfectly mapped-out future. They start with uncertainty, a little bit of instinct, and the hope that one opportunity might lead to something better.

For Bryce, that opportunity started taking shape when WorkOne connected him with Fathers and Families. What followed was not just job training. It was a complete shift in momentum.

The Support That Changed Everything

A huge part of Bryce’s story is the role Fathers and Families played in helping him move forward.

They did not just point him in the right direction and wish him luck. They invested in him. They paid for his CDL training, helped him complete the Strong Fathers program, gave him gas cards to make sure he could get to training, and encouraged him along the way. Bryce is clear that Fathers and Families gave him the foundation for a strong future.

That kind of support matters more than people sometimes realize.

When someone is trying to change their life, the barriers are often bigger than motivation alone. Transportation, finances, consistency, and confidence can all stand in the way. Bryce’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when a community organization steps in to help close those gaps in a real, practical way.

For him, Fathers and Families became part of the reason this was possible at all. Their support helped turn a hope into something tangible, and that changed the direction of his life.

Training for Something Bigger

Bryce completed his CDL training at C1 and says the experience helped him learn a lot about the industry and prepare for the job ahead. He came out of training with more than just a credential. He came out with a clearer sense of where he could go from there.

That is one of the most important parts of a strong CDL program. Good training is not just about passing a test. It is about helping students understand the work, build confidence, and step into a real career with a stronger foundation. C1 offers Class A and Class B CDL training, and also provides trucking career resources and admissions support for students trying to figure out the best path forward.

Bryce also did something many motivated drivers do early on: he started thinking beyond the basics. His goal is to move into gasoline delivery, which means pursuing additional endorsements like hazardous materials, tanker, and sometimes doubles or triples. That kind of long-term thinking says a lot about how seriously he is taking this career.

He is not just satisfied with getting started. He is already looking ahead.

Pushing Through the Hard Part

One of the strongest parts of Bryce’s story is that it was not completely smooth.

He actually failed his CDL test the first time. That could have been the moment where everything stopped. It could have been the point where frustration turned into discouragement and discouragement turned into giving up.

But that is not what happened.

Bryce chose to push through. He refused to get inside his own head and quit on the spot. He stayed consistent, stayed persistent, and kept moving forward until he reached his goal. Now, because of that determination, he has a strong career and a future he feels inspired by.

That part of his story matters because it is honest. Training does not always go perfectly. Not every student gets through every portion without a setback. Sometimes people struggle with classroom material. Sometimes it is the maneuvers. Sometimes it is the pressure of the test itself. Bryce’s experience is a good reminder that a setback is not the end unless you let it be.

Building a Better Life

Today, Bryce is working for AmeriGas, delivering propane to businesses and residences.

That role has already changed his life in a very real way. He shared that he had never made more than $21 an hour before, and now he is making $30 an hour. That is the kind of change that can reshape daily life, create stability, and open the door to a different future for a family.

For Bryce, that is what this career is really about.

He is now able to provide for his kids and give them a better future. That idea runs through his whole story. This is not only about getting a CDL or landing a job. It is about becoming the kind of provider he wants to be and building a life with more security and possibility than before.

That is one reason so many people are drawn to trucking as a career path. The industry offers room to grow, opportunities to specialize, and a path that can lead to greater earning potential over time. C1’s career resources also highlight that CDL training can open the door to a wide range of driving opportunities, not just one type of role.

Bryce can see that clearly now. In his words, before this program, he felt lost and like he did not have a path to go down. Afterward, he felt inspired, because the trucking industry is so big that he can do almost anything he wants to do and make a good living doing it.

What He Is Most Proud Of

Bryce put it simply:

“I am most proud of accomplishing my goal to get my CDL, completing training at C1, passing my test, and finishing the Strong Fathers program with Fathers and Families.”

His pride is not tied to one moment alone. It is tied to the whole process. The training. The perseverance. The support. The test. The personal growth. The commitment it took to keep going even when things got hard.

That is what makes his story more than a career update. It is a story about momentum, discipline, and what can happen when someone decides not to stop.

Advice to Other Fathers and New Drivers

Bryce’s advice is grounded, encouraging, and shaped by what he has lived.

To another father in a similar position, he says not to be afraid. Change can be scary, but he encourages people to look for resources in the community, like Fathers and Families, and to do their research into what they want to do.

For people considering CDL training, his advice is just as clear: do not get discouraged.

He knows firsthand that people can get hung up on different parts of the process, whether it is classroom work, the test, or specific maneuvers. But his message is to keep pushing through. Stay consistent. Stay persistent. If you do that, he believes you will reach your goal.

That advice carries weight because he actually lived it. He faced the discouragement. He hit the setback. He pushed through anyway.

A Future That Feels Different

Bryce Kern’s story is about much more than getting a CDL.

It is about going from feeling lost to feeling inspired. It is about taking a job he once enjoyed, recognizing there could be something bigger there, and turning that instinct into a real career. It is about the role Fathers and Families played in helping him move forward, and the role C1 played in helping him prepare for the work ahead.

Most of all, it is about what can happen when support, determination, and opportunity all meet at the right time.

For Bryce, the result is a stronger future, a better ability to provide for his kids, and a career path that still has room to grow.

To learn more about getting started, explore C1’s CDL training programs, learn about C1 Indianapolis, review trucking career resources, or see admissions options.

For anyone inspired by Bryce’s story, Fathers and Families is helping men build stronger foundations for themselves and their children, and stories like his are a powerful reminder of what that support can make possible. Learn more or support their mission at Fathers and Families.