Four Star Freightliner and Ingram State Technical College are partnering to give incarcerated Alabamians a shot at a new career, training them for jobs in the trucking industry before they walk out of prison.

Ingram State is unlike any other technical college in Alabama. It serves students currently incarcerated in the Alabama prison system or under supervised release through the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Depending on the individual, the program provides education and career training designed to help prepare them for successful reentry into the workforce.

That mission was at the center of Ingram’s recent Fall Institute, where Four Star’s Montgomery branch service manager, Sonny Hartley, joined other employers for an employer panel discussion focused on what it takes for students to successfully transition into the workplace.

Hartley shared a firsthand perspective from the heavy-duty truck industry, emphasizing that technical skills are only part of what makes a successful technician.

“Show up on time, have a good attitude, be willing to learn, and check your ego at the door,” Hartley told the group.

He also stressed the importance of communication and asking questions, particularly for technicians entering a shop where they will work alongside experienced professionals. “The smartest people are the ones who ask questions,” Hartley said.

Hartley explained that new technicians should expect to learn, work their way up, and continue developing their skills. Four Star provides mentorship and additional training to help technicians expand their knowledge and work on the many systems found on today’s heavy-duty trucks.

“You all train them, but then we’re going to take them and put them through additional training so they can work on all the systems on a heavy-duty truck,” he said.

Four Star has partnered with Ingram State for several years. In 2022, Ingram launched its first apprenticeship program with Four Star coming on board as an employer partner. Through the program, diesel mechanic students have gained hands-on experience working alongside Four Star technicians in the company’s shops while preparing for careers in heavy-duty truck service.

“Ingram State’s leadership is just outstanding. With their high energy and ‘we can accomplish anything’ attitude, it is easy to support those types of people. They also have an outstanding diesel technology instructor who is there for all the right reasons. We support them with up-to-date products to work on because it will not do anyone any good working with outdated equipment and technology,” said Four Star Freightliner Dealer Principal Jerry Kocan, who is also a member of Ingram State’s industry advisory board.

The Fall Institute brought together Ingram administrators, instructors, career coaches and support personnel to discuss correctional education, student engagement, and best practices. Cam Ward, Director of Pardons and Paroles for Alabama, and Albert Thomas, ADOC Associate Commissioner – Program Services, also participated in the event.

The broader discussion focused on investing in people and the role education and employment can play in reducing recidivism and helping individuals successfully return to their communities.