Every business in the U.S. depends on truck drivers to deliver goods, making this profession indispensable even in an increasingly automated world. Truckers transport produce, manufactured goods, and raw materials nationwide, ensuring the economy runs smoothly. For aspiring drivers, long-haul trucking offers a chance to explore the country, work independently, and earn a competitive income. The essential step? Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Since operating a semi-truck requires advanced skills beyond those needed for a standard vehicle, specialized training programs are crucial.
This guide provides future truckers with key insights for selecting a truck driving school. Trucking programs differ in reputation, cost, and job placement success, so choosing the right school is vital for launching a successful career. With the information provided here, aspiring drivers can identify the top CDL training schools to achieve their goals.
What Programs Are Available for Truck Driving?
Aspiring commercial truck drivers have plenty of options to start their careers. Many towns offer resources through community colleges or specialized vocational schools where future drivers can train, master a specialty, and earn their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Truck driving programs are relatively quick, often requiring just 300 hours—or about 8-10 weeks—to complete. Some schools even provide flexible schedules, like weekend classes, to accommodate working students. Prospective students should carefully research to find the best CDL training program that meets their needs and career goals.
When choosing a CDL program, check its graduation rate and how often graduates successfully earn their licenses. Compare the balance of behind-the-wheel training versus classroom time, as hands-on driving experience is crucial for building skills and boosting your resume.
Ensure the program prepares you for the specific CDL you need. A CDL-A is ideal for long-haul truckers handling tractor-trailers, while a CDL-B is suited for drivers staying local with buses, dump trucks, or delivery vehicles.
Here is a brief list of trucking schools in the United States:
- Johnson County Community College – Overland Park, KS
- Cecil College – North East, MD
- IITR Truck School – Bend, Oregon
- Atlanta CDL Training – Conyers and Columbus, Georgia
- Illinois Central College – East Peoria, IL
Find Your Online Trades Program
What Will You Learn in This Program?
Truck driving programs focus on teaching students to safely and effectively operate large vehicles on U.S. roads. These programs often offer specialized tracks, each with unique goals and outcomes.
The CDL-A track, for example, trains drivers to handle large, long-haul semi-trucks and trailers. Classroom topics include pre-trip inspections, trip planning, air brake systems, coupling and uncoupling payloads, and maintaining logbooks. Much of this training can even be completed online.
The CDL-B track covers similar topics, including truck safety, mechanics, air brakes, backing maneuvers, and pre-trip inspections. Some programs offer online classroom training, providing flexibility for students to complete much of their education remotely. However, not all schools provide this option, so it's essential to research programs to find the right fit.
Both CDL-A and CDL-B students must complete in-person practical training. This includes applying classroom knowledge in pre-trip inspections, coupling trailers (CDL-A), parallel parking, straight-line backing, and more. After mastering skills on a closed range, students demonstrate their abilities on the open road.
Skills Needed
Being a successful truck driver requires more than a good driving record, though exceptional driving skills is extremely important. Below are the necessary skills to be a top truck driver.
- Great Communication:
Must be able to communicate effectively, notifying the right people of delivery delays, heavy traffic, assignment changes, and any other issue. Must also be able to engage in active listening. - Exceptional Hearing Abilities:
Must be able to hear exceptional well, according to federal regulations. - Excellent Visual Abilities:
Should pass vision tests and have good hand-eye coordination. - Organizational Skills:
Should be extremely organized to keep up with hours of service, expense receipts, trip reports, and maintenance/repair records. - Mechanically Savvy:
Must possess mechanical knowledge to repair and maintain certain equipment. You never know when you might end up stuck on the side of the road or need to do some small maintenance yourself to save the hours it might take to get a truck-savvy mechanic on site. - Motivation:
An ability to stay motivated to get the job done. - Alertness/Awareness:
Should always be alert when transporting cargo, demonstrating excellent road awareness. - Excellent Driving Skills:
Must have a clean driving record. - Critical Thinking Skills:
Critical thinking will provide drivers with the ability to solve a wide variety of problems on their own. - Adaptability:
Must be able to respond appropriately to a variety of situations which will often not be optimal. - Responsibility:
Must be extremely reliable, making safety a top priority. A responsible truck driver will keep mishaps and accidents from happening. - Excellent Navigation Skills:
A strong ability to interpret a compass, read a map, and understand the rules of the road.
Financing and Scholarships
While truck driving education programs don't qualify for FAFSA aid or other federal government programs, drivers do have many great funding options for their formal training. Some state legislatures have allocated funds for their tradespeople and there are private foundations, too.
Here are a few funding options for aspiring truckers:
-
Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant
This grant is available to future truck drivers who wish to study in a branch of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology campuses. The grant will cover up to $2,000 in tuition for qualifying students. This covers the entire cost for TCAT's Truck Driving program.
-
This independent foundation is dedicated to helping America's tradespeople afford the training they need and thus launch terrific, fulfilling careers.
-
This generous foundation helps students cover the cost of their technical and trade education. The foundation has a scholarship program for high school students, adult learners, and military students. With their help, truckers can hit the road debt-free.
Choosing A Truck Driving Program
Online vs. On-Campus
These days, colleges and universities are both migrating toward online education. The pandemic also seems to have sped the adoption of this educational mode. While truckers must take the practical parts of their training behind the wheel of a real-live truck, the other half of the training is done in classrooms. For the classroom portion of the training, many schools are putting that material online. This way, future truckers can fit the classroom portion into their lives and still work their current jobs. For the practical portion of the truck driving training, schools strive to make that as flexible as possible and thus offer sessions on the weekend or at times that work best for their students.
For the online portion, students are urged to set aside ample time to complete the reading, review the material, and complete the assignments. Time management is imperative when it comes to online learning, as are the dedication and discipline to complete the work in a given time frame.
Job Placement Assistance
Trucking programs strive to have their alumni land meaningful, long-term employment. Most trucking schools will offer job placement assistance to their graduates. In fact, employers often work with these schools to help facilitate their hiring process. However, since these jobs often fill very quickly, schools may also keep in touch with those graduates who don't land a job immediately. Schools often will send graduates job notices until every student has landed a job and has remained employed there for at least 30 days.
Some trade schools and community colleges have well-developed career services programs to help all of their students, regardless of their major. These career development offices can help students with their resume writing, interview skills, and even job listings. It's also common for schools to host job fairs where community employers take resumes and speak with students. In a larger community college or vocational school, these fairs may feature a wide range of jobs from a variety of industries. Qualified drivers may even find surprising opportunities in industries they hadn't yet considered.
FAQs
How long does it take to complete one of these programs?
A typical CDL training course will take between 8 and 10 weeks. Since many programs offer the classroom portion via an online portal, students may be able to expedite this time frame. When students focus and dedicate several hours to their studies on a day off, for example, they can knock out a lot of their classroom work. The practical, driving portion isn't as flexible, but when students schedule ample time, they can complete that work with little disruption to their life.
How much do these programs cost?
Depending on the school, a truck driving program can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000, if not more. Students can often offset these costs with a grant or scholarship. Some schools even have relationships with employers who will help students repay any loans they may have taken. Students are urged to discuss tuition and financing with an academic advisor.
Is there specific accreditation for this training?
The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) is an agency that certifies truck driving schools. Students should also look for membership in the American Trucking Association, the National Safety Council, or the Truckload Carriers Association. Students should also look for certification from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Individual states also require that all educational institutions in their borders receive licensure. Students are urged to investigate their school's credentials and overall reputation prior to enrollment.
Search All Programs