Truck Driving School Price: Tuition, Fees & Total Price

A commercial driver's license, or CDL, is required to drive large trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles. Most people earn one by completing a training program at a private truck driving school, a community college or a carrier-sponsored course. Each route has a different price and a different time commitment.

This guide breaks down tuition by license class and school type, shows real prices from several colleges, and lists the extra fees that sit outside tuition. It also explains the federal training rule that applies to new drivers.

The overall range is wide because programs differ in length, equipment and whether testing is included. SelecTrucks, a used truck dealer that publishes a CDL guide, gives $1,500 – $8,000 as the typical cost of getting a CDL, depending on the school you choose.

Cost by license class

The class of license sets the vehicle you are trained on and the amount of instruction.

Class A, which covers tractor-trailers, tankers and flatbeds, runs $4,000 – $10,000. Class B, which covers straight trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks and buses, runs $2,000 – $6,000. Class A costs more, which may reflect the larger combination vehicles and the added training they involve.

Where you train matters as much as the license class.

Private truck driving schools typically charge $3,000 – $8,000. Many are accelerated and run for several weeks. Community college programs usually fall in the range of $1,500 – $4,000, and the source describes them as more comprehensive and often slower. Company-sponsored training is another route, where a carrier pays for or discounts training in return for a work commitment. Read the contract carefully, because leaving early may mean repaying the cost.

Published price lists show what students actually pay. These three colleges list prices for their Class A and Class B programs.

Southern State Community College in Ohio charges $5,750 for a 160-hour Class A program and $3,000 for an 80-hour Class B program. Gaston College in North Carolina lists $4,680, and that price includes tuition, the DOT physical, the drug screen and the CDL skills exam. SUNY Jefferson Community College in New York lists $9,495 as an all-inclusive price for a four-week Class A course.

The price gap among these schools reflects differences in length, equipment and what is bundled. Gaston bundles several fees that other schools bill separately, so compare the totals, not only the tuition lines.

Many fees fall outside tuition at private schools. Plan for the following:

A DOT physical and drug screen typically cost $100 – $150, according to SelecTrucks. You will also pay for a commercial learner's permit, state CDL license fees and testing fees, and those amounts vary by state. Your state motor vehicle agency lists current fees. If you want endorsements such as hazardous materials or passenger, each one usually carries its own test and fee.

SelecTrucks gives $1,500 – $8,000, which spans everything from low-cost community college courses to expensive private programs. The spread may come from these differences:

• Program length. A two-week Class B course and a longer Class A course cost different amounts.
• Public or private. Community colleges may subsidize tuition, particularly for in-state students.
• Bundling. Some programs include the physical, drug screen, permit and test, while others do not.
• Equipment and location. Schools with their own trucks and training lots may price in that overhead.

Federal rules require many new drivers, including those seeking a first Class A or Class B CDL, to complete entry-level driver training before taking certain tests. The training must come from a provider listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Training Provider Registry. This rule is called ELDT. Before you enroll, confirm that the school appears on the registry, and read the details on the FMCSA website. A school that is not registered cannot give you valid training.

Federal student aid may apply to some programs at colleges but not to every private school. Ask the school's financial aid office whether your program is eligible, and review the process at studentaid.gov. State workforce agencies sometimes fund CDL training for eligible people, and veterans' benefits may apply. Some carriers reimburse tuition after you have worked for them for a set period. For loan or payment-plan questions, speak with a licensed financial advisor.

1. What is the total cost, including the physical, drug screen, permit and test fees?
2. Is the school on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry?
3. How many hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel training are included?
4. What are your graduate job placement results?
5. Do I have to work for a particular carrier after training?
6. What is the refund policy if I do not finish?