About us
Custom Diesel Drivers Training, Inc. was founded in 1971 in Omaha, Nebraska. For over fifty years, CDDT has been helping to make the roads and highways of America a safer place. Custom Diesel Drivers Training, Inc. has eight (8) licensed instructors and out of that eight, we have six (6) licensed third party examiners. They’re each licensed by the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.
Locally owned, CDDT continues to meet the needs of the expanding trucking industry by successfully graduating thousands of educated and trained professional truck drivers for many local and national trucking companies. Today, CDDT offers its students up-to-date classroom and field training, all designed to provide the skills needed in the trucking industry.
We at Custom Diesel Drivers Training, Inc. are particularly proud of our history. Our pride lies not so much in that we are an old school, but rather in the fact that we are both an old and growing school. Come join us at CDDT and start your new driving career today!
James Walker – President
James’ experience in trucking started in 1979. He joined the United States Army and drove a 28 wheel tractor trailer hauling heavy tanks. He hauled plastic parts within Colorado, then drove coast-to-coast hauling swinging and boxed meat out of Colorado. He has pulled flatbeds, hopper bottoms, tankers, refers, dry box, and livestock trailers. He has driven well over four million accident free miles in the trucking industries. He and his wife became the new owners of Custom Diesel Drivers Training, Inc. in October 2010.
Ken Walker – Vice President|Director|Instructor|3rd Party Examiner
Jenny Walker – Office Manager|VA SCO
Jenny is from Omaha, NE and joined our team in September 2020. She originally started here as our receptionist and administrative assistant and has since took over the roll as office manager. She handles all of our accounts receivables, VA paperwork, student financing, and all compliances amongst countless other duties.
“We have a great group of staff members who are fun, love their jobs, and are passionate about the trade/skills that they are teaching. It is always rewarding to see the students at their graduation with their certificate and CDL in hand with a huge smile knowing that their lives have changed and have so many opportunities that await them!”
Debbi Jahn – Receptionist|Administrative Assistant
Debbi was born and raised in Omaha, NE and had worked in the medical field prior to joining the CDDT family as our receptionist and administrative assistant in January 2021. She is the first point of contact for everyone that walks in our doors and takes care of so many things ranging from taking calls, helping people to get registered for school, putting all of the classroom training materials together for our new students, and scheduling our classes, recruiters and vendors, amongst so many other countless office tasks!
“I like seeing students come through and get their CDL and start their new careers. I am here for them from their initial registration to their graduation! This is the best job ever! The Walker family are great people to work for, and everyone that I work with are awesome! ”
Anna Cunningham- Marketing|Recruitement
Anna grew up in Omaha. She lived in Chicago for a few years after graduating high school where she worked for her family non-profit organization. Upon returning to Nebraska she worked in accounting. She has always had a knack for creativity and relationship building so when the Marketing | Recruitment position was presented to her she jumped at the opportunity with Custom Diesel.
Jim- Instructor|Operations Manager|3rd Party Examiner
Jim was born in Idaho and also lived in Hawaii. He served in the US ARMY from 1990- 1998 2004-2008, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jim obtained his CDL in 1998 and drove Refer, Oversize and mostly Opendeck. Jim Started with CDDT in April of 2022. He has the drive, passion and heart for the position.
” The thing I like the most is the students, That moment when it all clicks and they finally get it. Knowing that I am helping shape the future of trucking is important to me. This work and lifestyle has given me so much, this is my opportunity to give back.”
Mike Schoenberger – Instructor|3rd Party Examiner
Mike is from Council Bluffs, IA and has been with our CDDT family since April 2017. He has had his CDL for 20 years and has primarily driven tractor trailers in that time. He is an instructor at our school as well as a 3rd party examiner.
“I enjoy the people that I work with and changing peoples’ lives for the better and helping the transportation industry with upcoming new drivers”
Dave – Instructor
Dave is originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa. He has held his CDL for 8 Years and decided to get off the road and become and Instructor at CDDT. Dave loves everything about his job and enjoys watching his students graduate and move on from their training.
Sam- Instructor|Supervisor
Sam hails from the state of Alabama where he was born and raised. He left his home town at age 18 to join the United States Air Force at Offutt AFB where he worked his way up to working contract for Homeland Security to the position of Air Manager. He then moved over into the trucking industry in 2015 and earned his CDL certification through Custom Diesel Drivers Training, thereafter, Ken pursued him to instruct at the school. He has been with us as of September 2022 as instructor| third-party tester| supervisor.