ABOUT KARLA COSTILLA
Karla Costilla is the Co-Founder and President of Masters Trucking Academy, a California CDL training school dedicated to preparing safe, confident, and career-ready commercial drivers. With more than 20 years in the transportation industry, she has devoted her career to improving truck driver education through hands-on instruction, mentorship, and real-world experience.
Born in Honduras, Karla immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of eight. Raised by her hardworking single mother, she learned the values of perseverance, responsibility, and resilience from an early age. When her mother became a commercial truck driver in the early 1990s, Karla witnessed firsthand how the trucking industry could transform lives by creating financial stability and opportunities for families willing to work hard.
That experience inspired a lifelong passion for the transportation industry.
HER EXPERIENCE
That experience inspired a lifelong passion for the transportation industry.
In 2003, Karla joined her family’s trucking business, Messiah Trucking, where she gained extensive experience in nearly every aspect of commercial transportation. Over the next 15 years, she managed accounts payable and receivable, payroll, dispatch operations, customer service, port logistics, invoicing, driver relations, fleet administration, recruiting, and day-to-day business operations. Working alongside professional drivers, customers, and logistics partners gave her a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to build and operate a successful trucking company.
While managing fleet operations, Karla noticed a recurring problem throughout the industry. Many new CDL graduates possessed a commercial driver’s license but lacked the practical skills, professionalism, and confidence employers expected from entry-level drivers. Rather than accepting this as the industry’s norm, she saw an opportunity to help change it.
That vision led to the founding of Masters Trucking Academy.
HER MISSION TODAY
Today, Karla leads the academy with one mission: to prepare students not only to earn a CDL but to become respected professionals who build successful, long-term careers in trucking. Under her leadership, the academy emphasizes hands-on instruction, real-world scenarios, safety, professionalism, and individualized coaching designed to prepare students for the responsibilities of operating commercial vehicles.
HER LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
Her leadership philosophy is built around the academy’s core values, known as RIGS:
- Respect – Respect yourself, others, the equipment, and the profession.
- Integrity – Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
- Growth – Commit to continuous learning and personal improvement.
- Service – Serve others with professionalism, humility, and excellence.
Karla also teaches what she calls the 4 R Philosophy, believing today’s trucking industry needs drivers who are:
- Respectful
- Responsible
- Reliable
- Results-Driven
These principles extend beyond the classroom and become the foundation for every student’s professional career.
BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILLS
As a certified Life and Personal Growth Coach, Karla believes technical skills alone are not enough. She encourages every student to develop confidence, discipline, leadership, and the mindset necessary to succeed both on and off the road. Her approach focuses on building character alongside competence because professional drivers carry tremendous responsibility every time they get behind the wheel.
Throughout her career, Karla has remained committed to continuous learning, leadership development, and improving workforce education within the transportation industry. She regularly collaborates with employers, workforce development agencies, and industry partners to ensure Masters Trucking Academy graduates are prepared to meet the evolving demands of commercial transportation.
HER VISION
Her vision extends beyond licensing drivers. She is committed to elevating the public perception of the trucking profession by helping produce drivers who represent the industry with professionalism, safety, accountability, and pride.
Today, Karla continues to lead Masters Trucking Academy with the belief that every graduate represents more than themselves—they represent the future of the trucking industry.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Commercial Driver License (CDL) Training
Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)
Commercial Vehicle Safety
Trucking Business Operations
Fleet Administration
Driver Development
Transportation Industry Leadership
Workforce Development
Driver Recruiting and Retention
Professional Driver Coaching
Small Business Leadership
Career Development
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
President and Co-Founder of Masters Trucking Academy
More than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry
Former operations leader for a family-owned trucking company
Experienced in dispatch, payroll, billing, customer service, fleet operations, and driver management
Certified Life and Personal Growth Coach
Creator of the RIGS leadership philosophy: Respect, Integrity, Growth, and Service
Advocate for developing Respectful, Responsible, Reliable, and Results-Driven professional drivers
Dedicated to improving truck driver education through hands-on, real-world instruction
Star Your Journey With Masters Trucking Academy
Quality training. Real experience. A better future.