Meet Mr. Gore

Introducing Mr. Gore 

Mr. Gore is originally from Greer, SC. He went into the Marine Corp and was a correctional officer (specialist). He worked in the brig (aka jail). He did that for 8 years. He has been stationed at Parris Island, Camp LeJeune, and Okinawa  

After the Marine Corp, Mr. Gore then went to Greenville Technical College for Aircraft Maintenance. He has worked at Lockheed Martin and General Electric. Mr. Gore went to work for Northrop Grumman and got back into aircraft maintenance in LA. He eventually made his way back up to the Upstate and currently resides in Greer, SC. Mr. Gore likes to fish for fun and also enjoys cooking.

 Mr. Gore got interested in trucking because he likes to be outside and “likes having the opportunity to make more money which you can do in trucking”. Mr. Gore was exploring a few trucking companies and decided to go with a flatbed company.

 Mr. Gore, since this spotlight, has obtained his CDL! He just finished his classroom training and is out with his driver trainer as we speak. We wish him the best of luck in his endeavors.

Meet Mrs. Padgett

INTRODUCING MRS. PADGETT 

Mrs. Padgett is originally from Chesnee, SC. Mrs. Padgett went to Greenville Tech after high school to Dental School. After finishing that, she owned her own embroidery and screen-printing business for 7 years. She monogrammed and custom embroidered items for ball teams and churches.


Mrs. Padgett recently decided to go to truck school. Mrs. Padgett’s husband is an owner/operator. So, when the talked about her traveling with him over the road, it made sense for her to get her CDL so she could have the ability to make money as well. Mr. Bailey shared that “She worked hard and diligently throughout the whole course. She stayed focused on her goal. Definitely a pleasure to be around and teach”. Mr. Braziel added, “I just think she is awesome!”.


Mrs. Padgett enjoys shopping, getting her nails done, and loves going to the lake. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, her husband, and her dog.


Mrs. Padgett obtained her CDL after she sat down and gave us a few minutes of her time for this spotlight. We look forward to following her career!

Meet Mr. Irias

Introducing Mr. Irias   Mr. Irias is originally from Honduras. He has been in America for 20 years. He first came to America with his parents when he was younger. He currently lives in Greenville, SC. Mr. Irias is married, loves to travel, and works full time. He used to be a driver that delivered supplies for a mill house, which mostly included lumber. Mr. Irias wanted to come to truck driver training for a better job and more opportunities. Eventually, he would like to own his own truck. He is Interested in pulling doubles and triples and possibly getting his hazmat endorsement. “He is a really great guy. He is polite and has manners. Mr. Irias is very motivated. Anything that I have asked him to do, he does it. I’ve enjoyed instructing him”, explained Mr. Reese. Director Bailey shared, “Mr. Irias is a dedicated family man and dedicated to making a better life for his family. He worked a full-time job and attended school. I know he was tired after working a full day, I admire all of his hard work and dedication. I believe he is going to move into a driver’s position at his current employment which will give him an opportunity to make more money.”

Introducing Mr. Lamb

Introducing Mr. Lamb

Mr. Lamb is from Greer, SC. His dad owns a commercial plumbing business that he started in 1992. Mr. Lamb currently works with his dad. Mr. Lamb was interested in getting his CDL in order to drive dump trucks and different tractors at the plumbing company.

He is not only a night class CDL Student, but also a high school senior. He plans to attend Clemson University in the fall for Civil Engineering. Mr. Lamb also participates in professional shooting competitions where he has been sponsored by various companies.

Mr. Reese, instructor, said “He is a great student. He is very mature for his age. He is respectful and has a lot of manners. I think he will be very successful in life.” Mr. Bailey elaborated, “I only have been around him a few times since he is a night student, but when I have talked to him, it is clear that he is mature beyond his years. He is very goal oriented and focused on his future”. Mr. Davison added that he is “ambitious, mature, and very driven”.

We wish Mr. Lamb the best of luck in his future goals and career!

Introducing Mr. Carter

Introducing Mr. Carter

Mr. Carter is originally from Teachey, NC. Mr. Carter moved to South Carolina in 2006. He has worked in concrete his entire life, “since about 11 years old”. His uncle had his own concrete business followed by his cousin. Mr. Carter had his own crew that worked on job; he has done everything from residential to commercial concrete jobs. Mr. Carter wanted to drive trucks when he was younger, but at the time, he was making more money laying concrete. Eventually, he went to truck driving school at Trans Tech in Fletcher, NC.

After graduating, he obtained CDL, got hazmat and tanker endorsement along with his Twic card. After a few years and with the shift in driver pay, Mr. Carter decided he wanted to get into trucking, so he signed up for a refresher course. Eventually he wants to purchase his own truck. As he is currently talking to a few carriers, he is thinking about going to Superior Carriers. Mr. Carter is married and has 7 kids. He has 5 boys and 2 girls from the ages of 18-28. Mr. Carter likes fishing and he loves college football on Saturday and NFL.

 Mr. Carter has worked with all the staff as he has cycled through various aspects of his refresher course. Mr. Braziel, lead instructor, shared that “He {Mr. Carter} is a pleasure to be around. Mr. Carter has done a great job and nailed every skill he has been asked to execute.” Director Bailey stated, “He {Mr. Carter} is very polite and respectful. He is very knowledgeable. He is one of those people have been caught up with things shutting down with COVID19, so he is trying to reimagine himself. I am glad we were still open in order to help him. It has been a pleasure to be around him. He has learned a lot here and expressed that several times.” Davison, Compliance manger, added that “Mr. Carter is always early and very self-motivated”.

We wish Mr. Carter the best of luck in his career as he finishes up his refresher course today!

Introducing Mr. Dunlap

Introducing Mr. Dunlap

Mr. Dunlap is originally from Savannah, GA. He lived there for 13 years and then moved to the Upstate. He worked in a warehouse and has been working in that field since he graduated from high school. He was interested in truck driving from being around the trucking industry while working in various warehouses. “I decided to pursue getting my CDL so I could live a more comfortable life (financially).” Explained Mr. Dunlap.

“When I came to orientation at SBL Driving Academy, I liked that the school had manual transmissions, and a family environment. Everyone treated me like family from the time I walked in the door”. Mr. Dunlap also expressed that he really likes the instructors, “they show me respect”.  Mr. Braziel, Lead Instructor at SBL DA, stated “he {Mr. Dunlap} is an awesome young man. He is very polite and a lot of fun to be around. He represents himself in a very professional manner”. Director Bailey stated that, “He {Mr. Dunlap} is a family man and is trying to do something to better his family. Since he has been here, his wife and child visited the school so they could have a picnic lunch with him. He is progressing nicely and seems to be enjoying himself. He is always early for class and willing to learn. “

Mr. Dunlap is married and has 3 children; he likes to travel and loves to try different foods.  Sometimes you can catch him skateboarding on his lunch break. Mr. Dunlap is very interested in driving tankers and hopes to go to work for Superior Carriers after completing his program.

Meet Mr. Moffat

Meet Mr. Moffat

Mr. Moffat is originally from Eureka, Kansas. Before coming to truck driving school, Mr. Moffat worked on a ranch. His job varied daily on the ranch which included: fixing fences, herding cattle, feeding cattle, and driving heavy equipment such as: bulldozer, excavators, tractors, and trucks. On the ranch, when he was driving an 18-wheeler, he really enjoyed it and begun thinking about his future. Later on, Mr. Moffat decided to move to Duncan, SC to have better opportunities, which lead him to SBL Driving Academy. After completing Entry Level Driver Training, Mr. Moffat’s game plan is to “get experience in over the road trucking for a few years and eventually move back to Kansas and go back to ranch work. I plan on going to work for a company that transports food, my dad has done it for a really long time.”

Additionally, Mr. Moffat holds a technical certificate in gasoline and diesel engines. He volunteered at Eureka Fire Department for the county and the city for 4 years before moving to South Carolina. He is certified in swift water rescue and scuba diving (recovery purposes). When he is not at CDL School, he enjoys the outdoors such as fishing and hunting.

Mr. Moffat expressed that he really has enjoyed his time at SBL Driving Academy so far and the “instructors are nice”. Director Bailey said, “He [Moffat] has done very good for himself. He did not come here with a blank canvas; he brought a lot of knowledge with him. The cool thing is, you can take him a little deeper than the basic understanding, you know take his training to the next level”.

Mr. Moffat spent his first day on the range today, and it was clear from his huge smile that he is happy to be behind the wheel.