New commercial truck driving academy launches in Orange Cove
The former Sunkist fruit packing facility in Orange Cove, which has been vacant for nearly two decades, has been given a new lease on life.
The 10.5-acre site at 700 Center Street is being revitalized as the home to the Orange Cove Truck Driving Academy, a partnership between the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Orange Cove, and Custom Training Solutions (CTS), a commercial truck driver training program formerly known as P. Steve Ramirez Trucking School.
Orange Cove City Manager Sam Escobar couldn’t be more thrilled. “It’s a really big deal for us as a community,” he said. “This is a pretty big win.”
The new trucking school couldn’t launch at a better time, when demand for commercial truck drivers throughout California is high, fueled by the state issuing commercial driver’s license (CDL) cancelation notices to immigrant truck drivers. Effective March 6, 2026, the California DMV canceled approximately 13,000 non-domiciled CDLs for immigrants due to a federal audit finding that the licenses improperly exceeded the holders’ legal presence in the U.S.
“This has left the trucking industry at a critical point,” said Alysha Castro, training coordinator for the Fresno County EDC. “This is where CTS can really step in and bridge that gap.”
Escobar said the goal is for the academy is to train about 100 drivers per year at the site under an accelerated eight-week curriculum that includes classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel driving experience.
The trucking academy is a first step, he said, for bigger things to come for Orange Cove. The city’s focus is on “training up” from packing facilities labor to vocational training in agricultural technology and electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trades.
“We want to do more,” Escobar said. “[The trucking school] is a seed for what we want to become.”
Castro said the trucking school is part of the Good Jobs Challenge grant, a collaborative regional initiative led by the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, aimed at placing 2,500 people into high-quality jobs. The initial $135,000 grant helps cover tuition costs for all enrolled candidates, transportation and childcare assistance while they’re in the program, and up to three months after training completion to help candidates with their job search.
A press conference will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. in the city of Orange Cove to celebrate the opening of the academy. Fresno EDC President William Oliver, Orange Cove City Councilmember Jacob Del Bosque, and City Manager Sam Escobar will be on hand to speak on the initiative and answer questions.
For more updates on Fresno County development and business initiatives, stay connected with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
