Since joining Casella's Waterville, ME division nearly two years ago, Darrett Fowler has steadily advanced his career, moving from septic services to rear-load operations while earning his Class B CDL and, just recently, his Class A. Driven by a desire to grow and take on new challenges, Darrett has embraced each step forward. Today, he continues to build his skill set with the goal of becoming a swing driver and mastering every truck in the fleet.
I was working on boats and doing mechanical work when a friend told me about the opportunity here, and it felt like something I could build a future with. I started in septic, doing deliveries and removals, then went through Casella's CDL Training School to earn my Class B license. I moved over to trash and now drive a rear-load truck. I recently came back to get my Class A license. My goal is to become a swing driver and be able to drive everything.
A typical workday starts before sunrise, getting the truck ready, completing a full pre‑trip inspection, and, especially in winter, letting the truck warm up before heading out on the route. Once I'm on the road, it's all about moving through my stops safely and efficiently, which really depends on knowing the truck inside and out. You have to understand its length, size, and turning radius so well that you feel almost "one with it." Mirrors help, but you can't rely on them alone. If something doesn't feel right, you get out, look, and make the right adjustments. Every route is different, so staying aware and connected to the vehicle is essential.
Safety comes down to smart judgment. In winter, a driveway with an inch of snow may look fine, but underneath, it could be icy. If you can't safely walk up it, you shouldn't put a 50,000-pound truck on it. Everything slows down in winter, and it needs to. It adds time to your day, but it's better to be cautious and make it home safely.
It was really good. Andrew and the instructors don't just teach you how to drive, they teach you how everything works and how the company operates. You get to see departments like the call center, which helps you understand how it all connects. When you go back to your division, you actually know what you're looking at during your pre- and post-trip inspections. It gives you confidence, especially in emergency situations.
We have a great group. You don't always work side by side, since everyone has their own route, but the morning meetings give us a chance to connect. If you ever have a question about a stop you haven't done before, you can call anyone, and they'll help you out. That support makes a big difference.
I've got a customer who hands me homemade banana bread every time I stop by, always a new flavor. The last one was chocolate‑chip Reese's. Little things like that stick with you.
Go for it. Especially with this company, you can start in a basic truck, get your CDL, and move up. Casella doesn't just help you grow, they actually want to see you grow. Everything is set up so that when you want to progress, you can.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, is one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States. Founded in 1975 as a single truck collection service, Casella has grown its operations to provide solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to more than one million residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers and provides professional resource management services to over 10,000 customer locations in more than 40 states.
