As educators and instructors in the trucking industry, we often measure success by pass rates and pre-trip inspections. But the true intrinsic reward — the reason we show up to the classroom and the range — isn’t found in a manual. It’s found in the transformation of a student into a peer.
There is no better example of this than David Kastiro.
David’s journey at Patterson High School began amidst the chaos of a global pandemic and significant personal financial hardship. Life took him as far as Texas, but the pull of his goals brought him back to California with little more than a few dollars and an unshakable drive.
As his instructors, we witnessed David navigate the “behind-the-wheel” grind to earn his CDL. We watched as trucking become more than a job for him; it became the engine that reunited his family under one roof and provided them with immediate stability.
We watched as his career took flight.
Since graduating, David’s trajectory has soared. In just three years, he has:
- Diversified his resume by hauling various commodities;
- Joined the elite team at Walmart Transportation at age 21;
- Represented Walmart at the California Truck Driving Championships;
- Secured approval for his first home purchase;
- Started on the path to a degree in business administration; and
- Begun working toward earning a private pilot’s license.
It’s what I call the “full-circle” moment.
What’s even better is seeing David work to help others succeed.
The ultimate reward for an instructor isn’t just seeing a student succeed. It’s seeing them reach back to help the person behind them.
Despite his busy schedule, David remains a staple in our trucking program. Whether he is guest speaking in our classrooms, co-presenting at the Educating for Careers Conference, or volunteering for the annual Women In Trucking conference in Dallas, David leads with a sense of responsibility.
He often says that giving back isn’t a choice: It’s a duty to the industry that changed his life.
When we invest in our youth through the Next Generation in Trucking Association, we aren’t just teaching gear patterns — we’re building the heart and leadership of the industry.
David Kastiro is living proof that when we pour our expertise into the next generation, the return on investment is a brighter, more professional future for us all.
Dave Dein is the truck driving program coordinator and instructor at the Patterson High School Supply Chain and Logistics Training Center and the co-founder of the Next Generation in Trucking Association.
With a career spanning over three decades in the trucking industry, Dave has worked as a driver and a manager. He is also the founder of Faith Logistics, a nonprofit truck driving school ministry dedicated to providing career opportunities through trucking.
For the past 27 years, he has been a dedicated educator within the Patterson, California, Joint Unified School District, holding both multiple and single-subject teaching credentials.
His commitment to shaping the next generation of trucking professionals has earned him significant recognition, including being named the 2025 California and Region V Teacher of the Year.
