From Pain to Power: How a Truck Stop Became My Turning Point
- Aug 11
- 1 min read
By Charlene Inez Arnold
There was a moment I will never forget: I was parked at a truck stop in Washington state with my five children asleep in the back of my truck. We had nowhere else to go. That night, something broke in me—but something else ignited.
I promised myself that night I would not let my children grow up thinking struggle was all life had to offer. I got back behind the wheel, earned my CDL, and worked my way from driver to examiner to business owner. I built iBest Trucking Academy, launched the DriveHER Foundation, and now I train and certify hundreds of new drivers—especially women—every year.
Being “unstoppable” used to mean pushing through pain and pretending I was okay. Now, it means honoring where I came from, using my voice to open doors for others, and letting purpose drive the wheel.
To the version of me who almost gave up:
You were never meant to park here. You’re the key to the whole vault.
Keep going—your future self and your children are counting on you.
Thank you again for this powerful opportunity.
Connect With Charlene
TikTok: @cdlexaminer
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