NORTH VENICE, Fla. – PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in the premium window and door category, recently celebrated its first class of graduates from its new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) driver certification training program.
PGT Innovations addressed the current shortage of CDL drivers by creating its own in-house driver certification training course for its existing employees.
“Trying to recruit qualified CDL Class-A drivers was proving to be quite difficult,” said Rachel Evans, Vice President of Human Resources at PGT Innovations. “We saw the potential in our existing team member population and realized that we could offer a program to our own folks who were interested in taking their careers in a new direction.”
PGT Innovations brought in instructors from FleetForce Truck Driving School to lead the course. The group of team members went through a full week of classroom learning at PGT Innovations’ Venice campus, followed by three weeks of driving instruction in a controlled parking lot.
“The need for CDL drivers right now can’t be overstated,” said Tra Williams, President of FleetForce Truck Driving School. “PGT Innovations recognized that they could fill this need and at the same time, invest in their team members’ futures. Through this CDL training, they are creating a path of upward mobility.”
The eight employees who completed the training program have passed their certification exams. Over the next year, they will partner up with a current trained CDL driver to learn at a gradual pace.
“This program aligns with PGT Innovations’ vision of serving, leading, and thriving,” said Rachel Evans. “The more we serve our team members through career advancement opportunities, the more likely they are to move into leadership roles supporting our organization. The outcome is a thriving company.”
Largely throughout the industry, CDL drivers are responsible strictly for transporting goods between destinations. CDL drivers for PGT Innovations provide an extra level of customer service by assisting with the loading, unloading, and final inspection of products to ensure safe handling, damage-free delivery, and increased customer satisfaction.
Earlier this month, PGT Innovations celebrated its truck drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW) with a breakfast and a truck driver appreciation t-shirt.
About PGT Innovations, Inc.
PGT Innovations manufactures and supplies premium windows and doors. Its highly engineered and technically advanced products can withstand some of the toughest weather conditions on earth and are revolutionizing the way people live by unifying indoor and outdoor living spaces.
PGT Innovations creates value through deep customer relationships, understanding the unstated needs of the markets it serves, and a drive to develop category-defining products. The company is also the nation’s largest manufacturer of impact-resistant windows and doors and holds the leadership position in its primary market.
The PGT Innovations’ family of brands include CGI®, PGT® Custom Windows and Doors, WinDoor®, Western Window Systems, Eze-Breeze®, CGI Commercial, NewSouth Window Solutions, and a 75 percent ownership stake in Eco Window Systems. The company’s brands, in their respective markets, are a preferred choice of architects, builders, and homeowners throughout North America and the Caribbean. Their high-quality products are available in custom and standard sizes with massive dimensions that allow for unlimited design possibilities in residential, multi-family, and commercial projects. For additional information, visit www.pgtinnovations.com.
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PGT Innovations Contact
Media Relations
Stephanie Cz, Corporate Communications Manager
SCz@PGTInnovations.com
941-480-1600