Willie Jones, the dynamic founder and CEO of Dependable Source Corp (DSC) Driving Training Academy, has been transforming the trucking industry for nearly three decades.
Since the pandemic, Jones has pivoted the focus of her Mississippi-based company to empower women, particularly Black women, to enter the lucrative field of truck driving.
Stepping Out of Traditional Roles
Jones said it is crucial for women to explore non-traditional career paths.
“You don’t have to just be a teacher. You don’t have to just be a nurse,” she told WAPT.com. “A lot of our women in the midst of COVID were concentrated in low-wage jobs.”
Success Stories and New Beginnings
One of the many success stories emerging from DSC is that of Deshae Chambers. At 24, Chambers decided to leave her six-year career as a pharmacy technician to pursue her passion for driving.
Now in her second week of DSC’s driver program, she aims to get her trucking license and start a company with her brother.
“Driving has always been my passion,” Chambers shared. “The medical field was convenient, but not my passion.”
Transformative Opportunities
Jones noted a significant uptick in women seeking better opportunities after the pandemic.
“A lot of women came to us after COVID-19 and said I’m tired of working two to three jobs to just try to make ends meet,” she said. “They can get into this industry and earn good money.”
Graduates of DSC’s program can expect to earn between $50,000 to $70,000 a year.
A Vision for the Future
Willie Jones is not stopping with adult women. She is expanding her vision to include high school graduates, offering them a viable career alternative if they choose not to pursue college.
“I want them to know that there are other career paths,” she said.
About Willie Jones
Willie Jones has been a formidable leader in the transportation and staffing industries since 1995, supplying professional, DOT-certified commercial drivers across the South. Her company was recognized in 2016 as one of the Largest Minority-Owned Businesses in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal.
Apart from founding the DSC Training Academy in 2020, with locations in Greenville, Tupelo, and Jackson, MS. Between 2011 and 2019, Jones also provided quality in-home care to seniors and other clients needing daily living assistance.
In 2018, Jones was honored as one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs. Her commitment to workforce development not only provides better-paying jobs but also uplifts families, communities, and the Mississippi economy.
“Good workforce development leads to a highly skilled workforce,” she stated. “And that uplifts everyone.”
Willie Jones continues to break barriers and inspire countless women to take control of their destinies by entering the trucking industry, proving that with passion and determination, one can turn dreams into reality.
