About this episode

Michael J. Mollick discusses the challenges and improvements needed in driver training for professional truck drivers.

In this episode of Behind the Wheelhouse on Trucker Talk Radio, Michael Mollick, a senior CDL trainer, third-party CDL examiner, and training program improvement specialist, joins Justin for a candid conversation about what it truly takes to prepare the next generation of professional truck drivers. With more than a decade in CDL education, over 1,000 graduates, 300-plus exams administered, and a first-time pass rate above 90%, Michael brings a perspective on driver development that is rarely heard at this level of depth. Michael walks through his own path into trucking, from running auto parts out of Detroit to car hauling as an owner-operator, and how a family crisis during his time at Warner Transport led him to an instructor role at American Institute of Trucking. He breaks down the three parts of the CDL test, how he motivates students from day one, and why he gives every graduate his personal phone number so they can text him any hour if they hit a situation they are not prepared for. He also shares his three-tier driver framework: the Rodeo Clown, the Cowboy, and the safe professional driver, and explains why that mental model shapes everything he teaches. The conversation…

People in this episode

Host: Jon Vogt

Guest: Michael J. Mollick

Topics covered

• driver training
• CDL education
• trucking industry
• professional development
• driver turnover
• student motivation

Keywords

• CDL training
• trucking
• driver development
• CDL test
• turnover rate
• student support
• trucking education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American Institute of Trucking, Warner Transport

Places: Detroit

More episodes of Trucker Talk Radio

• Freight Fraud, Double Brokering & Getting Carriers Paid | Charles Soncrant on Trucker Talk Radio · July 20, 2026 · 54 min
• Zero Breeze Tech Is Solving One of Trucking's Biggest Problems | Sean Mathews on Trucker Talk Radio · July 17, 2026 · 34 min
• The Cyber Threats Targeting Your Fleet Right Now | Ben Wilkens on Trucker Talk Radio · July 16, 2026 · 44 min
• California Trucking Association CEO Eric Sauer on Fighting for the Industry | Behind The Wheelhouse · July 15, 2026 · 50 min
• How Comdata Changed Trucking Forever | Randy Morgan on Behind The Wheelhouse · July 13, 2026 · 46 min
• The Brokerage Truth: Fraud, Data & Where Freight Is Heading | Kevin Hill on Behind The Wheelhouse · July 8, 2026 · 41 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Trucker Talk Radio podcast page.