Freymiller, Inc. was honored at the Hilton Garden Inn in Edmond last night as Central Technology Centers 2023 Partner in Progress.  

The Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education (OkACTE) award recognizes businesses and industries that have made outstanding contributions to the improvement, promotion, development, and progress of career and technology centers in Oklahoma.  

For more than 50 years, Freymiller, Oklahoma City, Okla., has worked to earn a reputation of professionalism, integrity, and excellence in the transportation industry. The family owned and operated company began in Wisconsin before moving to California.  

After time and research, they made their final move to Oklahoma, a state focused on supporting the trucking industry.    

They were so appreciative of the support they received from Oklahoma they decided to return the favor. After a little innovative thinking, they devised a plan to repay the state that supported them. Founder Don Freymiller and son, David Freymiller, owner and chief executive officer, knew the plan must benefit Oklahoma, develop a workforce, and improve the truck driver shortage.  

After several meetings between Oklahoma CareerTech, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Governor Stitt, and Central Technology Center, the idea became reality. 

In 2019, Freymiller partnered with Central Tech, a statewide truck driving school, to complete the educational component of the plan. And the second chance program was born.  

Central Tech had been providing new drivers to Freymiller for several years. Now, with approval from the Department of Corrections, the truck driving school would train incarcerated individuals.  

“The second chance program focuses on transitioning justice-involved individuals into life after incarceration. The goal of the program is quite simple, break the cycle of reincarceration,” said John Thorpe, transportation and safety education director at Central Tech. 

Education is known to reduce recidivism. In fact, individuals who enroll in postsecondary education programs are 48% less likely to be reincarcerated than their peers who do not. 

“Once students successfully gain their Class A CDL from Central Tech and are released from prison, they have an employable skill in a needed industry,” said Thorpe. “Whether the graduate becomes a driver for Freymiller or another trucking company, students learn a trade, earn a great income, and begin their path to success.”  

Through the second chance program, Freymiller and Central Tech positively impact lives and provide an untapped pool of drivers to an industry currently short of 78,000 drivers throughout the country. 

To date, 156 justice-involved individuals have obtained their Class A CDL through the Central Tech Truck Driver Training course. Of those trainees, 49 have been employed with Freymiller. An additional 30 are awaiting release and their opportunity to pursue a career as a professional truck driver.  

Central Tech is proud to recognize Freymiller as their 2023 Partner in Progress. 

About Freymiller: For over 50 years, the Freymiller family has worked to earn a reputation for professionalism, integrity, and excellence in the transportation industry. Our founder, Don Freymiller, grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. In 1968 he bought his first truck in an effort to better provide for his young family. By 1980, Freymiller Trucking boasted 56 trucks and was exclusively devoted to hauling temperature-controlled freight. Today, we are still family owned and operated, and maintaining our rich tradition of going the extra mile to keep every customer satisfied. 

What makes Freymiller different from other companies is our dedicated team of employees, drivers and contractors – each of whom works hard to give customers exceptional service, value and safety on every temperature-controlled load we transport. 

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we’re led by a dedicated group of professionals whose work maintains an environment which promotes innovative thinking and problem solving. We enjoy a strong family atmosphere along with an open-door policy; we know everyone by name and always strive to treat others as we would like to be treated. Every customer, truck driver and employee is backed by the strength of a half-century of experience and our solid, reliable financial position. 

As the aviation industry continues to grow across the state of Oklahoma, local aviation companies began contacting Central Tech regarding their struggle to find workers. 

To grow their own labor force and expand the pool of qualified applicants surrounding the Bristow and Stroud area, Consolidated Turbine Specialists, Mint Turbines, PAS MRO, and Vertical Aerospace, partnered with Central Tech to find a solution for hiring a skilled workforce. 

“To meet the training and employment needs, we worked with the aviation companies to create a 14-course pathway that will begin in February. The class will meet two nights a week, three hours a night, for 10 months,” said Mark Cotner, assistant superintendent of Central Tech.  

Aviation Maintenance classes will be taught by employees from the partnering companies who are hiring. Students can enroll at the beginning of any of the 14 classes, so they do not have to start in February.  

By choosing curriculum and teaching classes, this training gives companies and students the opportunity to learn the skills needed for the job. In addition, Cotner said, “companies and students can treat the class like a job interview. We expect companies to hire students before they complete the pathway.”  

“What a win this is for people who live in the area,” said Cotner. “Students learn a great skillset and become gainfully employed locally. This gives individuals more time with their family, saves money on travel expense, and allows them to become more involved in their community.” 

Central Tech responds to industry specific needs. The aviation maintenance technician program is just one way they take training directly to the communities.  

“We will continue to identify high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand jobs where we can increase offerings based on need and meet the demands of the workforce,” said Cotner.  

If you are a company in need of employee training or building your workforce, please contact Peter Kelly at peter.kelly@centraltech.edu.  

Central Tech is expanding short-term class offerings to local communities. The courses include industry required certifications, entrepreneurial and small business workshops, and personal interest courses.   

“To provide more accessible training opportunities for the patrons throughout our district, we are now offering adult evening classes in the communities of Bristow and Cleveland,” said Mark Cotner, assistant superintendent of Central Tech. 

To determine which classes to offer first, Central Tech surveyed former students and polled Bristow, Cleveland, and their surrounding communities through Facebook. 

Courses scoring the highest votes begin this spring. Additional classes will begin in the fall.  

Bristow classes by start date:  

• Certified Medication Aide (CMA) – Jan. 10
• DC Electricity & Electronics – Jan. 10 
• Business Basics – Jan. 31 
• AC Electricity & Electronics – Jan. 31
• Aviation Maintenance Technician – Feb. 21 
• Customized Welding – Mar. 21
• Computer Basics for Seniors – Apr. 10 
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) – May 9
• Intro to Drone Pilot – June 6 

Cleveland classes by start date: 

• Customized Welding – Feb. 21 
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) – Feb. 28 
• Photography – The Basics – March 20 
• Certified Medication Aide (CMA) – March 21 
• DC Electricity & Electronics – April 4 
• AC Electricity & Electronics – May 2 

Online classes are also being reviewed with Medical Terminology going online in January.  

Enrollment is open. For more information or to pre-enroll online, visit centraltech.edu or call 918.352.7622. 

The Annual Central Tech Foundation Ron Vandever Memorial Golf Tournament was held at the Buffalo Rock Golf & Venue in Cushing on September 19, 2022.

Our amazing tournament sponsor this year was Premier Truck Group of Tulsa. The response was incredible with over 40 business and community sponsors at the platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels.

This year’s tournament realized $17,731.82 net proceeds! The proceeds are used to provide scholarships to Central Tech students as they develop new technical careers for future employment.

With two flights of golfers in each round, the tournament was spread out over the morning and afternoon.

Morning A Flight

In the morning A Flight, J & M Plumbing, Inc. placed first while MVP Logistics, LLC, Team #1 placed second.

Morning B Flight

In the morning B Flight, Premier Trucking Group of Tulsa, Team #1 won first and Tedford Insurance, Team #2 won second.

Afternoon A Flight

In the afternoon A Flight, Tedford Insurance, Team #4 won first while SpiritBank, Team #1 won second.

Afternoon B Flight

In the afternoon B Flight, Merrifield Office Supply placed first and RCB Bank placed second.

U.S. Senator James Lankford toured several programs on Central Tech’s Drumright campus Tuesday. He, along with Dr. Lee Denney, interim state director of Oklahoma CareerTech, and Skye McNiel, executive director of OkACTE, heard from instructors on how they train students to meet the needs of the workforce. 

The senator’s team scheduled the visit to learn more about the training opportunities Central Tech has in the region for truck drivers, especially as we continue to face supply chain issues around the country. 

Senator Lankford told ELDT Class A CDL students, “the number one thing that I hear in the state is people are looking for drivers. Literally, what you all are doing is stepping up and solving one of the biggest challenges we have as a nation right now.” 

He said employers in all 77 counties across Oklahoma are sharing the same message that their businesses would be doing better with more drivers. 

“Everybody in the state is looking for you,” Lankford told truck driver students as he thanked them for meeting this high need.  

The touring group met with students and instructors discussing needs in several industries including cyber security, oil and gas, truck driving, powersports, and linemen.  

Lankford told lineman students, “I can’t even imagine that kind of emotion of watching those in action (in Florida) right now. Unfortunately, it will come to us as well at some point, so thanks for stepping into that role and taking on that job.”  

This past year Central Tech achieved a 94% placement for students entering the workforce or continuing their education. Central Tech, part of the Oklahoma CareerTech system, provides technical education leading to industry certifications. 

DRUMRIGHT, OK – Central Tech will be hosting a Pond Management class on Friday, July 29 at the Drumright campus from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m for a total cost of $10.

Participants will start class in the Business Development Building, 201 North Settle Drive, but won’t be staying there for long. A tour of three pond sites close to the Drumright campus will happen during this class. “The pond management tour is an opportunity to see ways to improve your pond whether it’s for aesthetics or functionality reasons, that will in turn, increase your property’s value,” said Agribusiness Management Coordinator Whitney Harrison.

The three hour class will give students a working knowledge and checklist to inspect ponds to ensure overall longevity as well as information on tools and resources available through local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices.

“Many people are not aware of the programs NRCS has available, this will give pond owners a chance to learn and ask questions,” said Harrison.

According to her, attendees will have the opportunity to meet experts with information on a variety of topic.

“Our local NRCS conservationists will be on hand to discuss funding and design resources that they have available to our area producers,” she said.

Other experts participants will have the opportunity to receive advice from include:

• OSU Professor of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and Aquaculture Dr. Marley Been
• Cheryl Cheadle from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Water Quality Blue Thumb Program State Coordinator
• Water Quality Monitoring Specialist with Oklahoma Conservation Commission Wes Shockley.

By DeAnna Maddox, Cushing Citizen