McCulloch makes U-turn back to SCC as new Truck Driver Training instructor

Will McCulloch, a Columbus County native, is Southeastern Community College’s new and first full-time Truck Driver Training program instructor. After a two-and-a-half-year partnership with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, the groundwork was laid out for SCC’s own Truck Driver Training program. With nearly 40 years of truck driver experience and as an alumnus, McCulloch returned to SCC ready to place safe, qualified truck drivers on the roads across the county and beyond.  

The road to SCC 

Through a friend’s recommendation and seeing SCC’s 18-wheeler trucks parked at the driving pad in Fair Bluff, McCulloch’s desire to teach sparked. For years, McCulloch has wanted to be a part of a truck driver training program at SCC, and this was his chance, he said. When he saw the truck driver instructor position posted online, McCulloch applied for it and came on as a part-time truck driver training instructor in May 2025.  

From May until December last year, McCulloch studied and learned how a truck driver training class should operate under the guidance of CCCTI’s head instructors. When SCC transitioned to maintaining its own Truck Driver Training program at the end of 2025, McCulloch assumed his new role in January.   

“I know it sounds kind of cheesy, but I have a deep passion for wanting to produce safe truck drivers – professional drivers who will prioritize safety,” McCulloch said. “And now I’m proud to say that I’ve got a small part, at least, in producing some professional safe truck drivers.” 

McCulloch has three part-time instructors on his team. Glen Batten and Lance Cribb accompany students on the road, while Ken Allen assists McCulloch at the driving pad in Fair Bluff. With plans of expansion and teaching in multiple areas of Columbus County, McCulloch said he is most looking forward to moving to SCC’s main campus in 2027, when the Transportation/STEM Building is completed. In addition to the new building, a new five-acre driving pad will bring expanded training space and opportunities for larger class sizes. 

“With this larger driving pad, it will give students more experience behind the wheel before they go on the road,” McCulloch said. “We’re also looking forward to having more driving simulators, which will be a huge help.” 

McCulloch said the biggest obstacle he overcame to become an instructor was learning how to teach truck driving. He said that driving the trucks with confidence was the easy part but showing someone else how to do it was the challenging part. Under Caldwell’s guidance, McCulloch followed their blueprint for running a successful class. McCulloch said the most fun part about working at SCC so far is watching his students graduate from the program.  

“It’s almost like watching your kids achieve something you know you had a little part in,” he said. “Seeing their satisfaction and knowing they achieved this just makes you grin on the inside in seeing them successful.” 

At the driving pad in Fair Bluff, a typical day for McCulloch starts at 8 a.m. in the classroom with everyone going over their logbook. By 8:15 a.m, he has six students outside going over their pre-trip inspection and going out on the road. The rest of the class performs straight line backing, offset backing and docking exercises on the driving pad.  

“To complete the class, students have to pass all the driving pad exercises, the pre-trip inspection and the road test,” McCulloch said. “They are here Monday through Thursday until 5:30 p.m., and then they complete the online portion of the course on Fridays.” 

How it started 

McCulloch started his truck driver and heavy equipment operator career in 1987 while serving in the U.S. Army as an army engineer. After his service, McCulloch earned his associates of science in business degree from SCC in 1994. He returned to SCC for a second associates degree with intentions of transferring to UNC Wilmington to become a teacher. McCulloch soon discovered that teaching was not the right career path for him at that time, and he returned to the workforce as a long-distance truck driver.  

After two years on the road, McCulloch wanted to remain closer to home and start his own trucking business, CSM Trucking. When an economic downturn hit the trucking industry in 2010, he decided to sell the business and started working at Don Prince Backhoe and Trucking in the Williams Township community. While there, he transported equipment and served as a heavy equipment operator.  

With experience in both truck driving and heavy equipment operation, McCulloch has built a career in the field and is now bringing that hands-on knowledge into the classroom to help train the next generation of drivers. 

Outside of work, McCulloch enjoys motorcycling, snow skiing, kayaking, hunting, fishing and hanging out with his 5-year-old grandson. He and his wife of 37 years, Donna McCulloch, have two adult children, Hali and Jonathan. 

Ready for a career as a truck driver? SCC’s next Truck Driver Training orientation is Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. Click here to register!