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Committee backs $385,000 CDL training contract to expand city workforce qualifications
Summary
The committee recommended a $385,000 contract with AGT Trucking School for CDL training to help new hires obtain Class A/B licenses on the job; staff described roughly 15 hours of behind‑the‑wheel training and DOT medical/drug‑testing requirements.
The Oxnard City Public Works and Transportation Committee on May 12 recommended that the City Council approve a contract with OHO’s Trucking dba AGT Trucking School to provide commercial‑driver license (CDL) training for city employees, a measure staff said is intended to broaden the pool of qualified applicants and reduce hiring gaps.
The proposed agreement is not to exceed $385,000 for an initial three‑year term (with options for extensions). Water Division Manager Chris Payton told the committee that the city often struggles to hire applicants who already hold required certifications for both water‑system operation and Class A commercial licenses, so the city uses training as a recruiting and retention tool. "History has kind of taught us in the past that we've had a lot of difficulty hiring people with both the certifications for water distribution and the Class A's," Payton said.
Jose Areola, Fleet Services Manager, said the vendor’s training program includes behind‑the‑wheel instruction and course work; "Our training facility gives approximately 15 hours of behind the wheel training," he said. Staff also described regulatory requirements for higher‑class licenses, including Department of Transportation medical clearance and random drug testing. A staff speaker noted endorsements for tankers or air‑brakes and the separate certification pathways for Class A, B and C licenses.
Director Michael Wolf framed the program as an investment in employees and the city’s operations, saying the city seeks "good employees, trainable employees" and that the training requirement is tied to employment expectations rather than a free benefit.
Committee members voiced support for the employment and training orientation of the contract. The motion to recommend council approval carried on a 3–0 roll‑call vote and will be forwarded to the City Council for final authorization.
