Professional Driving

The Professional Driving program is a Certificate of Achievement program designed to prepare students for a career as a professional driver.  Using modern equipment, the certificate offers instruction and training in material handling, straight trucks, tractor trailer combinations, including doubles and loaded trucks.  Students log time behind the wheel on the driving range and on public roads and highways prior to graduation.  Additional training includes hazardous materials transportation, and basic tractor trailer maintenance trouble shooting and repair.

It is anticipated that 40 students will complete the certificate on an annual basis.

The Certificate of Achievement in Professional Driving is intended for students who plan to seek employment in the trucking industry as a professional driver.  A student completing this program will possess the skills necessary to work in all areas of the trucking industry as well as the knowledge to perform basic maintenance on commercial trucks.  The certificate also prepares students to haul hazardous materials and provides additional knowledge needed to be an owner operator.

Truck Driving is a diverse industry with a tremendous variety of career opportunities.  Students that successfully complete the Truck Driving program requirements and license endorsements necessary to obtain entry level employment are in high demand.  Initial entry jobs include driving produce trucks from field to processing plant.  There has been a shortage of truck drivers which will be attenuated with the increase in the number of retirees.  Career opportunities exist in oil production and maintenance, agriculture, distribution, manufacturing, and construction.

Truck Driving is part of the Industrial Science program, which offers educational programs on the industrial aspect of agriculture.  This includes Heavy Equipment Operation and Welding.  These two along with Truck Driving offer student's very broad basic skills, and multiple careers within construction and agriculture.

There are no truck driving courses taught at community colleges on the west side of the Central Valley.  West Hills College Coalinga is competing against private industry truck driving courses that are offered at five times the cost, in a shorter time period, with less driving time, and less content devoted to professional driving skills.  Students need an option to enter the job market without college debt.

This program meets the mission of the college to provide CTE opportunities to support students, community, and industry.  In doing so, the program will provide students with an opportunity to gain increased wages in an industry with a skill that is lacking in the Central Valley.