C1's Road Ahead Scholarship Recipient — Shaquille Jackson

C1 Truck Driver Training is proud to announce the first-ever recipient of the C1 Road Ahead Scholarship: Shaquille, a Dallas, Texas native, husband, and father of two who is taking a bold step toward a better future for his family and honoring a legacy of trucking in his own family along the way.

When Shaquille learned he had been selected, he described feeling immediate gratitude and relief, saying he could finally “see [his] future” and believe that “everything’s going to start getting better.” After years in warehouse work and forklift driving, Shaquille has been chasing a dream that’s been with him for a long time: becoming a professional truck driver.

For Shaquille, trucking isn’t just a new career path; it’s personal. He shared that his grandfather, who was a truck driver, played a major role in inspiring him. Shaquille remembers watching him head out on the road, state to state, and seeing how hard work created stability.

“It was motivating,” he shared, describing the discipline of seeing his grandfather get up each morning and drive. Trucking is also a family tradition: Shaquille’s brothers and uncles are also drivers, and he noted it “runs in the family.”

Shaquille is determined to carry forward the legacy that began with his grandfather with pride and purpose.

“I do feel that I’m going to do great,” he said. “I know my grandfather’s spirit is going to be with me the whole way.”

Shaquille’s “why” is rooted in family. He and his wife are raising two children, and he’s focused on building a future that looks different than the one-bedroom apartment they currently share.

“Seeing them wake up every morning… knowing that I can do better—that’s what motivates me to keep going,” he explained.

He also spoke openly about the financial reality many families face today. With rising housing costs and wage pressure in the warehousing industry, he recognized that continuing in his current role wouldn’t get him where he wants to be, especially with the goal of becoming a homeowner.

— Shaquille Jackson

This scholarship represents a meaningful milestone for C1 and reinforces our commitment to helping students unlock opportunity through training, support, and access. Shaquille’s story reflects the determination and purpose we see across so many of our students: family-first motivation, big goals, and the willingness to take the next step.