Many of our students are in motor transport coming out of the Marines and are looking for a good way to transition into civilian life with the skills that they have learned.

“The challenge I faced on choosing a vocational school was that I am a mechanic and a lot of the jobs I was looking at to be a mechanic had a prerequisite of ‘have to have a class A CDL’ which eased by decision to be part of California Career School.”

“I feel the most valuable asset a school can have is a knowledgeable staff and instructors, which CCS definitely has.”

Garrette plans to move back to Louisiana after his separation from the military. “[W]ith the training I have received and the assistance in job placement, I will be successful.”

Congratulations to Garrette on successfully obtaining his commercial class A license! We wish you the best!

“A buddy of mine told me about the course, so we came out and talked with Instructor Ward. Ward gave me information on the course and walked me through the tuition assistance program. So with a positive impression about the school I decided to spend the Marine Corps’ money for something positive.”

“[I] got a lot of options,” Nick said. It could be jumping into the truck driving over the road or going back home to get his associate’s degree in criminal justice to become a state trooper. He is currently a military police officer and security and commercial truck knowledge packs a powerful combo. “Just one more thing on my resume!”

For the holidays he wants to spend time with his family and kids. He told us what his kids thought about him being a truck driver, “[My son] thinks it’s pretty neat!” Nick said he would definitely have him sit in the cab, “He’d get a kick out of it!”

We asked him: what did you immediately want to do? “Relax a bit,” he told us, “then hit the ground running again.” Now that he has many options for his career, we wish him luck in all of his future endeavors. Congrats again Nick!

Was there anything during your experience with CCS that was surprising or unexpected?

“That I got through so fast.” – Travis Johnson

“The steering wheel was an eye opener. It takes more to keep the rig straight.” – Johnathon Allen

“I was able to go at my own pace, not everyone else’s.” – Matt Ockerman

Describe a moment that stands out about your training.

“The downshift moment, when I was finally able to shift down to 3rd gear. I felt totally ready to pass my drive test and I did.” – Michael Davies

“My light bulb moment was during backing the truck. Knowing where the trailer goes when you turn the wheel in either direction.” – Luis Quintero-Espinoza

“Driving, when I first drove. I felt I was doing the right thing, felt like something I wanted to make a career out of.” – Raul Gastelum

All of these graduates have commercial class A driver licenses after successfully completing their training at our Oceanside and Twentynine Palms contract training locations or at our Anaheim corporate office. Congratulations to you all once again and we wish you the best!

“I had [a] friend,” he shared with us, “that had gone before me and said nothing but good things about CCS. [...] I wanted a ‘plan B’ for when I got out of the military, slowly my ‘plan B’ started becoming my ‘plan A.’ I went ahead with this vocational school.”

“[My] main obstacle was time. My EAS was rapidly approaching and I had a time crunch.” Our military students receive flexible training hours to ensure that their duties always come first. Jaime completed his truck driver training in less than the average time it takes for many other military students to finish.

“[It was a] very good experience,” said Jaime, “feel comfortable behind the wheel.” He also mentioned that, “everything was handled professionally.”

Once again, we want to congratulate Jaime for his achievement and we wish him good luck in his future endeavors!

Weeks ago, he told our placement coordinator Marcelle Gerard, “I’ve decided to take ***** up on his offer. Training starts Nov. 28th. I’d like to thank you guys for being the stepping stone between my military service and my next career move.”

For Hugo, Marcelle wanted to share, “It is not often that someone’s first interaction with a company is in person and not through an online application. Upon first being introduced to this hiring company, Hugo met the recruiting manager who would be one of the deciding factors affecting his offer of employment.” This was at a presentation made just for our students and graduates.

“It’s personal right from the beginning,” Marcelle continued. “This company gets the feel for you in person as opposed to just looking at a resume. We are appreciative of the visits that they make to provide presentations and chances for meeting our students. Without this opportunity, our students succeed with less limitations for their future. I am so happy that Hugo has found a home with this company and that we were able to support him along his own path to success!”

She touched base with him shortly after and Hugo replied, “Everything is going great! I’m in my 2nd week of training. It’s almost unreal how well they value their workers. Met the company president. [...] The compensation for our hard work is generous and benefits are excellent. It’s hard work but worth every bit of it. The promotions are there all it takes is time and hard work. I have full intentions on making this a career. “

John wanted to thank both of his instructors, Jose Ballesteros and Joseph Evins. “They’re all about the student learning.” He described Joseph as “smooth” and “breaks it down step by step.” Jose, on the other hand, is someone he felt was, “fact-based, fast-paced” and geared towards “fast learners.” To John, it was important to receive constructive criticism and this is something that Jose did not hesitate to provide. “Jose’s a trip,” he laughed. “They make a good team.”

“Right now,” he told us, “I’m still active duty. [...] I’m waiting for a transportation company in New York.” He had already sent in his resume and is hoping for the good news to come up soon.

“I would definitely recommend the school,” John said, citing our accreditation and flexibility with our Military students. “I enjoyed [the class]– it was fun to me. If I could do it all day, I would.”

Once again, congratulations to John for completing the course successfully and quickly. We wish him luck in his endeavors in New York!

Before coming to CCS, he was looking at another local school. James mentioned the amount of time between starting class and actually stepping into a truck. “I would have had to wait… almost a month. I didn’t really want to wait that long,” so he decided to come to CCS since we put our students in our trucks right away. “I would tell anybody that wants to drive truck or bus about CCS.”

We talked to him about his future plans now that the course is over. “I get out in May, ” expressing his eagerness to drive over the road, “I wish it was sooner! [...] My dad owns two nice, nice fancy trucks.” They’re selling one and the other one would be used by the both of them as owner-operators doing team driving. “I’m really excited– I grew up with this,” saying that his dad has been in the trucking industry since James was very young. Since then, he said, “Drive [a] truck, that’s what I want to do.”

Once again, congratulations to James and we wish him well once he starts over the road with his family’s business!

Kyle & Raul first wrote about why they came to California Career School.

“Because of certification you get out of CCS and because it’s more hands on than sitting in a class room all day.”

“Getting ready to leave the arm forces and was not sure what kind of job I wanted to do.”

Quite a number of our students are often on the way out of the military and asking themselves, “What next?” Entering the trucking industry, which is always hiring, becomes a reliable alternative. Training is hands-on right away.

Was there a moment, we asked them, that really stood out for them personally during training?

“Everyday was an eye-opener.”

“Driving, when I first drove I felt that I was doing the right thing. Felt like something I wanted to make a career out of.”

“Just being able to drive a truck.”

We know that military duties always come first– as such, we pride ourselves on offering a flexible training schedule to our military students.

“Overall, the way the school really cares about us as students. Being a Marine, our bosses just want us to be at work. The school on the other hand, has always adapted to our schedules as students and works with us.”

“Flexible, there’s days I can’t make it, or I leave to field-ops and the school understands.”

Lastly, we asked our students if there was anything else that they wanted to share with others who are thinking about going to CCS.

“They will work with you, to understand, and know a semi from inside out.”

“Everything. Out of the other driving schools around, this one by far is the best. Students really do drive the school’s success, and the success statistics prove it. CCS offers more endorsements and the instructors will do whatever it takes it make it happen.”

Once again, congratulations to the three of you and we wish you luck in everything ahead!

Author: Sarah Bantay

This is the question many of the members of our military face when active service is coming to an end. Camp Pendleton’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides classes to separating service members during their period of transition into civilian life, providing job-search assistance and related services within 180 days prior to separation or retirement.

Our Operations Manager Kristine Lewis & San Diego Military Representative Natalie Tinkham

Camp Pendleton hosts TAP classes several times per month, allowing California Career School the opportunity to extend our educational services to those looking for work after separating from the military. To attend at California Career School, service members don’t need to be on active duty at all– we are a VA approved school! You can receive your class A license in as little as 6 weeks and have a job waiting for you upon graduation! Regardless of your time remaining with the military, California Career School will help you get your license in a timely manner. We will put you in our full-size trucks in your first week of class; our training is hands-on from the very beginning.

California Career School representatives use time at TAP class to meet potential students, learn what their career goals are, and see how we may be able to help them. A potential student came right up to our table and said, “My Commanding Officer told me to get a Commercial Driver’s License as something to fall back on.” We were able to talk to him to see if our school would be a good fit for him and we showed him how his Tuition Assistance would cover the cost of the program. So if you see us at the next TAP class, stop by and say hello! With your separation coming up, want to help you decide what to do next.

Call us today at 1(800) 499-6585 to meet with us!

Author: Sarah Bantay

We asked him about what led him to CCS. “Well for one the school is accredited and its been around for 41 years,” Robert described. “My buddy ***** is the one who told me about CCS and said the training methods were good.”

“The challenge for me,” he went on, “was I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I got out [of the military]. I thought that maybe if I could not find a job I could use my class A to find a job. Now having driven a big rig I know that’s what I want to do.”

Experiencing something new is not without surprises, trials, and tribulations. “The difficulties or obstacles during my training were the alley dock and parallel parking. I overcame those obstacles because I had an instructor there to guide me in the right direction.” However, Robert reflected, “The moments that stand out from my training is the confidence the instructors had in me.” He went on to describe his instructors Ward, Ryan, John, and Randall as, “effective, knowledgeable, [and] understanding.”

“What [was] surprising and unexpected was how soon you get to start driving.”

In the end, what was most valuable to him was the design of the course. “Breaking up the training objectives and moving on to do different things during class,” Robert shared with us.

“It is a great school and would recommend to my friends… If you want knowledgeable instructors with OJT [on the job training] come to CCS.”

Congratulations to Robert and we wish you luck in your future endeavors with your new-found commercial truck driver’s license!

Author: Sarah Bantay