Justin Brooks, a 37-year-old from Spokane, Washington, has dreamed of becoming a truck driver since childhood, inspired by riding alongside his grandfather on freight runs. Born completely deaf, Brooks long faced a barrier that prevented him from earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). That changed in 2013, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revised its rules to allow deaf drivers to qualify through a federal hearing exemption waiver.

Nearly a year ago, Brooks began the waiver process, and once approved, he enrolled in Spokane Community College’s (SCC) commercial driving program, becoming its first deaf graduate. SCC provided full accessibility support, including sign-language interpreters, written materials, and creative solutions such as a fish-eye mirror mounted inside the truck so Brooks could see his interpreter during on-road training. Instructors and interpreters even developed custom signs for trucking terminology.

Instructor Ted Buit praised Brooks’s skill and understanding of tractor-trailer operations, while Sally Hillebrandt from SCC’s Disability Support Services noted that while the college had long supported deaf students in classrooms, trucking training required new logistical adaptations.

Brooks emphasized that deaf drivers are just as safe as hearing drivers, citing research from the National Association of the Deaf and explaining that he relies heavily on visual cues, mirrors, and flashing lights rather than sound. He dismissed the notion that hearing sirens is essential, noting that constant mirror checks keep him aware of emergency vehicles.

After years of working unsatisfying restaurant jobs, Brooks is now fulfilling his dream. He has accepted a position with a major trucking company in Kansas City, Missouri, and looks forward to hauling loads in a flatbed or commercial van. His success joins a growing list of deaf drivers nationwide, many of whom faced long searches for accessible training programs—some traveling across states to find one.

For Brooks, SCC’s willingness to adapt and make trucking education accessible has been life-changing:

“They thought it might be challenging, but it really did go quite smoothly,” he said. “This school, I feel, is really a great place for deaf students.”