Driving trucks is a career that is in steady demand, sends you all over the country, and has competitive pay and benefits. However, it isn't for everyone — you need to be a skilled driver of very large semi-trucks commonly used for hauling freight.
Finding the best CDL training schools can help you get the training and practice to start a truck driving career.
15 Best CDL Schools
We chose the following 15 CDL schools because they all:
Cost less than $20,000 to attend
Graduate most of their students
Are institutionally accredited
Here are 15 of the best CDL schools in the country in alphabetical order:
How to Choose the Right CDL Training School
Many of the best CDL training schools will include connections to particular companies in the area that hire graduates quickly. If the program can discuss how they help to place graduates, they are likely to be one of the best CDL schools.
You can also look at the training and experience of the instructors. There should be bios available for some of the instructors, and if they aren't on the website, you can ask the school who teaches the coursework. Ideally, these instructors will have experienced the day-to-day realities of truck driving but also have extensive experience teaching.
How to Become a Truck Driver
Typically, truck driving begins with having a valid standard driver's license and either a high school diploma or a GED. Then, either in a combined program or separately, you'll want to enter a professional truck driving program that teaches you about the job and the skills needed and prepares you for your CDL license exam.
A CDL training school course can be a few weeks, a few months, or even a year long.
Other Ways to Become a Truck Driver
If you have a background in logistics, have obtained your CDL for a different kind of driving career, or if you already work in another part of a company that employs truck drivers, you may be able to enter the career laterally rather than through a professional program. However, education programs often provide placement assistance, helping you transition seamlessly to your first job in trucking, so choosing one of the best CDL schools is a valuable path for those without relevant experience.
Paying for CDL Classes
Truck Driver Scholarships
Women Trucking Foundation Scholarship
Who qualifies: Females attending a training facility that gets them ready for a truck driving career.
What it covers: $1,000
New cycles of funding open in March.
Companies with Tuition Reimbursement Incentive Programs (TRIPs)
Many companies that employ truck drivers offer CDL classes which they'll reimburse after you spend a period of time working for the company. Check out some of the companies in your area and ask if any of them offer this option.
