Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Dodd.
Hi Tina , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Tina Dodd and I SAVE lives… I am the proud Founder and CEO of Drive Alert Training Academy, LLC and Owner/Operator of Driving Academy. My journey didn’t begin as a business idea—it began with a life-changing moment that I will never forget.
In 2007, while working in law enforcement, I responded to a tragic fatal traffic collision involving three teenagers who had just left a high school football game. Throughout my career, I had experienced loss and witnessed difficult scenes—but nothing prepared me for that night.
What stayed with me wasn’t just the accident—it was also the moment the parents arrived.
I had to physically hold them back, protecting them from a sight I knew no parent should ever have to witness.
As a mother, that moment broke something in me. My son was the same age as those teenagers. It hit close in a way that changed my perspective forever.
At the time, my own son had been on a waiting list for driver’s education from 9th through 12th grade at his high school. Like many parents, I had no choice but to send him to a private driving school—but we received little to no feedback on his progress, his habits, or his readiness to truly be safe on the road.
That didn’t sit right with me.
I knew there had to be a better way.
That moment—and that frustration—became the foundation of my mission.
Determined to build something different, I made a bold decision. I changed my major in undergraduate/graduate school from Criminal Justice to Business and served three years in Afghanistan as a government employee, with a clear goal in mind: to invest in a higher standard of driver education. I used that time and sacrifice to fund advanced driving simulators—becoming one of the few programs in South Carolina to offer this level of training.
These simulators mirror how pilots learn to fly—allowing students to experience real-world driving scenarios in a controlled, safe environment before ever hitting the road.
That same concept carries over into our CDL training programs under Driving Academy where precision, safety, and preparedness are critical, preparing those individuals to the Road to Freedom.
Drive Alert Training Academy was built to be more than just a driving school. It is a place where students gain confidence, where parents receive transparency and peace of mind, and where safety is not just taught—but practiced and reinforced.
We don’t just prepare students to pass a test—we prepare them for life.
Every lesson, every instructor, and every program is rooted in one mission:
To create Better, Smarter, and Safer Drivers.
This journey has required sacrifice, resilience, and faith—but it has also created purpose.
Drive Alert and Driving Academy isn’t just my business.
It’s my calling.
And we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This journey has not been easy. Building a company rooted in safety and accountability comes with unique challenges. Finding qualified instructors who not only have the skill to teach, but also maintain clean driving record and a willingness to work in excellence, has been an ongoing hurdle.
Like many businesses, we also faced significant disruptions during COVID-19—pausing operations, navigating uncertainty, and working to stay afloat while still supporting our students and staff.
And just as we regained momentum, we were hit again by the impact of Hurricane Helene, which brought unexpected setbacks and financial strain.
But through every challenge, we adapted, we rebuilt, and we kept moving forward—because the mission was bigger than the obstacles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My background is what truly shapes my approach. I bring a combination of military service and experience in local, state, and federal law enforcement into everything we do. Those experiences instilled in me discipline, leadership, risk assessment, and strategic planning—principles that are deeply embedded in how I built and continue to operate my business.
At Drive Alert, and Driving Academy we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ve implemented structured training systems, accountability measures, and scenario-based learning designed to mirror real-life situations. From incorporating advanced driving simulators—similar to how pilots train—to applying high standards in instructor selection and student evaluation, everything we do is intentional and mission-driven.
What I’m most proud of is the impact. We’re not just teaching people how to drive—we’re helping save lives by creating better, smarter, and safer drivers. Knowing that our students leave more confident, more aware, and more prepared to make critical decisions on the road is what drives me every day.
What sets us apart is our foundation. This isn’t just a business—it’s built on lived experience. Having witnessed firsthand the consequences of unsafe driving during my law enforcement career, I’ve made it my mission to change the narrative around driver education. We emphasize transparency with parents, real feedback, and a higher level of training that goes beyond industry standards.
At the end of the day, Drive Alert and Driving Academy stands at the intersection of education, safety, and purpose—and that’s what makes us different.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One thing that might surprise people is the level of personal sacrifice behind this business. Many don’t know that I served three years in Afghanistan as a government employee, and a total of five years working in high risk countries, not just for service—but with a purpose. It helped me to fund advanced driving simulators so I could bring a higher level of training to my community.
People see the business today, but they don’t always see the journey, the risk, sacrifices and the intentional decisions that went into building it.
Pricing:
- Competitively Priced
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drivealerttraining.com
- Instagram: drivealerttrainingacademy
- Facebook: drivealerttrainingacademy
- LinkedIn: Greenville.sc@cdldrivingacademy.com
