The owners of Covenant Trucking Co. in Youngsville, Jones and his sons all earned their commercial driver's licenses from the N.C. Truck Driver Training School at Johnston Community College. The company has more than 20 trucks and some 25 employees.

"It has been a wonderful business venture, and it all started when I attended the N.C. Truck Driver Training School at JCC," Joe Jones said.

Jones isn't a lifelong trucker. In fact, he didn't pursue the career until 1996, when he retired from the U.S. Army. At the suggestion of a family member, he enrolled in JCC's truck-driving program to earn his CDL.

"I didn't know anything about driving a truck. I didn't even know how to shift gears," Jones said. "But when I graduated, I was totally amazed at how the school had turned me into a professional truck driver."

After earning his CDL, Jones decided to open his trucking business out of his home. The business caught on with family, and over time, his three sons completed the program at JCC. His wife Wendy is a vice president, secretary and treasurer of the company. Their oldest son, Carlton, is the company's vice president of operations. Middle son Jonathan is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the youngest, Jeremy, is studying at Vance-Granville Community College.

Jones said that growing up in a trucking business had taught his sons many important driving and business skills that he believes will help them in whatever career path they take. "We know it is the best truck-driving school in the nation," Jones said. "As far as the company goes, I wanted to make sure all of them were properly licensed to operate the equipment, since this is a family-owned business, even if they don't pursue the family business down the road."

The sons have gained experience maneuvering heavy equipment and in making business decisions, and the company has provided them good income at a young age. Trucking has become an integral part of their lives, is the topic at the office and at dinner and has become a comfort zone for their future, they said.

As vice president of operations, Carlton stays busy dispatching drivers, managing job sites and making sure the day-to-day operations run smoothly. "This has given me the opportunity to use what the school trained me for," he said. "The school provided me a lot of knowledge, and the business has allowed me to receive the experience in the field."

"It was a natural thing," Jonathan said of learning to drive a truck. "It's something I wanted to do and something I looked forward to doing, but it's definitely not easy."

"It was hard being the third son to go through the program, but it was fun," Jeremy said with a laugh. "The pressure was definitely on, and I knew I could not fail."

This year, JCC's truck-driver training program has faced funding cuts of some $200,000. Jones said continued state support of the program is key to providing job opportunities for many individuals.

"It would be a detriment to the state if the school was eliminated or had to make major sacrifices because of a funding shortage," Jones said. "So many people who have lost their jobs or are starting new careers have been given opportunities at that school."