Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved truck driving programs in California

Quick answer

Most truck driving training in California approved for the GI Bill® is on the job: 20 of the 32 locations are employers or sponsors offering apprenticeship or OJT, so you can earn wages while you train.

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 32 truck driving training locations in California with 40 approved programs: 12 with school programs and 20 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 2 have a VA caution flag.

Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

Also check FMCSA's registry. First-time Class A and B CDL students must train with a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. [FMCSA: Entry-Level Driver Training]
California CDL schools →

32 locations, by city

Show all 32 locations

American Career Training

Redding, CA
VA profile for American Career Training (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit
  • Tractor Trailer Operator 1
  • Tractor Trailer Operator 2
  • Tractor Trailer Operator 32 Plus

GI Bill students (all programs): 5Not accredited (accreditation is not required for VA approval of many trade programs)

Center for Employment Training San Jose

San Jose, CA
VA profile for Center for Employment Training San Jose (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Private VA caution flag
  • Truck Driver
  • Truck Driver I

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

VA caution flag: School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring. The Department of Education has placed this school on Heightened Cash Monitoring because of financial or federal compliance issues. Learn more about Heightened Cash Monitoring

GI Bill students (all programs): 24Accredited (national)

Advanced Career Institute

Visalia, CA
VA profile for Advanced Career Institute (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Advanced Professional Truck Driver
  • Commercial Driver-3 Week
  • Professional Truck Driver

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 63Accredited (national)Student complaints in VA data: 2

Western Truck School

West Sacramento, CA
VA profile for Western Truck School (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit
  • Class A Commercial Driver Program - Cdla
  • Class B Commercial Driver Program

GI Bill students (all programs): 26Not accredited (accreditation is not required for VA approval of many trade programs)

Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.

Common questions

How many GI Bill-approved truck driving programs are in California?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 40 approved programs at 32 locations in California as of October 23, 2026. That's about 4% of the 888 truck driving locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 20 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 8 for-profit schools, 3 public colleges and technical schools, 1 private nonprofit school.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in California have truck driving programs?

By number of locations: Fontana (3), Fresno (2), San Francisco (2), Aliso Viejo (1), Bakersfield (1), Bellflower (1) and 22 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid truck driving apprenticeships in California that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 20 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in California (20 programs); 20 of them are registered apprenticeships. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

Do any truck driving schools in California have VA caution flags?

Yes. 2 locations have a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Other trades in California

← All Truck Driving / CDL programs · Does the GI Bill cover CDL school?

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  4. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)” (page last updated February 4, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.