Jesus Uribe is hauling oranges on this cold December morning. As he pulls into the Vertical Farms Cold Storage, he's already pulling on his gloves, ready to jump out and un-tarp his load for the forklifts to unload. His smile indicates he is enjoying today's work. It's a regular, daily routine for most Truck Drivers to get the payload ready for unloading, but for Jesus Uribe, this task holds a special significance. It is a task that demands his full attention because it also brings back memories of a tragic event in his life. "It reminds me of when I was working as a forklift driver," Uribe said. "Then I remember the accident caused by a forklift where I lost my leg, and I get sad."

Uribe is like most Mexican immigrants who have come to the United States. He left his home in Guanajuato, Mexico, at the age of 15, intending to earn enough money so he could help his family back home. Also, Uribe found his first work in California's Central Valley farmlands, pruning and trimming trees, weeding, and picking fruit such as peaches, plums, and grapes. Once the picking season ended, he would find work in the packing houses to continue to send his portion of the money back home. Uribe had fulfilled his promise to find work, build a life in the United States, and have his own family.

However, everything came to a halt in 2008 when that freak accident occurred. The doctors could not save his leg, and it had to be amputated up to his right thigh. Uribe fell into a deep depression because of the uncertainty that he would ever walk again, let alone work. "The truth is, I knew I wasn't going to be able to help my family back home because I was married and had a son by the time the injury happened," Uribe remembers. "So I knew I couldn't help like I wanted to."
It would take two years for Uribe to finally get his prosthesis and another two years for him to become fully functional again. Finding work proved even more difficult for Uribe because of his physical limitations. One day while riding with his Truck Driving brother, it was suggested that Jesus give Truck Driving a shot. While there is some physical work to be done, most of the job is driving, and that was certainly something Jesus thought he could do.

Jesus went to several schools to ask for prices, but training was expensive. Finally, his brother, who had received truck driving training from Proteus, told him to go to the office located in Selma, CA., to get more information about the services. "When I saw Jesus, we didn't know about his condition until we screened him." Proteus, Inc. Employee Service Representative Roberto Aguilar said. "He was telling me about the accident and all the limitations he had, such as no high school diploma or GED and his English being very limited. However, he was very determined to receive the training he was seeking. So, we assisted him as soon as we could and put him into training."

At Proteus, Uribe enrolled in the Department of Labor's National Farmworker Jobs Program received the following services: comprehensive, objective assessment, career counseling, development of individual employment plan, training, workshops, and supportive services such as travel, rental assistance, food, clothing, and gasoline assistance. Selma staff guided him through each process to enroll him in a truck driving school. He was rejected from several schools due to his limitations, but Proteus staff kept looking until they found a school where Jesus was admitted and was able to complete the truck driving training. As a result, he obtained his Class A driver's license in August 2021. Jesus started working as a truck driver on 10/03/2021, where he was making $15 an hour. Not long after, Jesus found another job as a truck driver. He is now making $20 per hour and is working an average of 60 hours a week. Likewise, Uribe made $14 an hour before the training to $20/hour after obtaining his Class A driver's license. Uribe's journey to becoming a Truck Driver is an excellent example of how determination and drive can help fuel positive outcomes beyond himself. "Jesus motivates me to keep helping people," Aguilar said. "You see him, with all his limitations, and he did it. He accomplished his goal. He's amazing."

"I'm thankful for the opportunities that Proteus gave me and the chance to get a better job," Uribe said. "Without their help, I would have had to pay out of my pocket or asked if I could make payments. I'm so thankful to God for the opportunities he gives and Proteus being there. I'm just happy that I can help out my family a little more again." Even though Uribe's road to a better life has been filled with unimaginable roadblocks, he finally made it to his destination even though it took longer than he wanted. Now we know why he's smiling while he works.