Frank Lopez<\/a><\/p>\nThe City of Orange Cove has launched a new commercial truck driving school to help provide vocational training for careers in the transportation industry amid a regional driver shortage.<\/p>\n
The OC Truck Driving Academy is a program designed by a partnership between the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Orange Cove and Custom Training Solutions, a Fresno vocational school with training programs in business, health care, truck driving and technology.<\/p>\n
The school is located at the former Sunkist fruit packing facility, which has been unoccupied for about 15 years, at 700 Center St. and covers 214,000 square feet on approximately 10 acres.<\/p>\n
The academy\u2019s eight-week curriculum includes class instruction and behind-the-wheel driving experience, along with job placement partnerships with regional logistics companies and coursework aligned with federal commercial and safety standards.<\/p>\n
A press conference will be held on Thursday to celebrate the launch of the academy, which will include speakers Fresno EDC President William Oliver, Orange Cove City Councilmember Jacob Del Bosque, and City Manager Sam Escobar.<\/p>\n
Discussions for the academy started about six months ago, Escobar said, exploring the need for such a project in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great program for the community. Orange Cove works to create versatility and diversity in the type of jobs that are available to our community. Our objective is to find those missing pieces and needs in our community and our state so we could provide that training capacity here in our city,\u201d Escobar said.<\/p>\n
The project received a $135,000 grant through the Fresno EDC, which is just the initial grant and could be extended to a higher amount in the future.<\/p>\n
Besides the replacement of carpets and the installation of new toilets, no construction renovation work was necessary.<\/p>\n
The academy has been in operation for about a week, with 14 students in attendance who are already training on the trucks, and there is a waitlist of about 20 for the next cohort.<\/p>\n
The location in Orange Cove will serve Eastern Fresno County and the Eastern Valley including Tulare County.<\/p>\n
The facility has created about four permanent jobs, and the addition of a night program would add two more positions, Escobar said.<\/p>\n
He said the city is proud of the opening of its first commercial truck driving school, as the Central Valley continues to serve as the backbone of California\u2019s logistics and agricultural supply chain with demand for drivers at an all-time high.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a landmark initiative designed to provide residents with high-demand vocational training and a direct pathway to stable, high-paying careers in the transportation industry,\u201d Escobar said.<\/p>\n
Del Bosque said that new regulations from the Trump Administration regarding drivers\u2019 immigration status and language requirements have led to a high demand for drivers. He is also a truck driving instructor for Custom Training Solutions.<\/p>\n
Del Bosque said the Central Valley is a hub for truck driving, especially with the agriculture and manufacturing industries, as well as for distributors.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually we want to add other trades [training programs] for forklift operations and want to add an ag mechanic class here. That\u2019s our two-year plan,\u201d Del Bosque said.<\/p>\n
He said Orange Cove hasn\u2019t had a training facility like The OC Truck Driving Academy and is glad he could help provide the opportunity for the community.<\/p>\n
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![\"student](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oc-truck-driving.png\")
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