Truck Driving & CDL
Quick Facts: Truck Driving & CDL Training
Where it's offered
Truck Driving & CDL programs are offered at 96 schools across 29 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $41,481/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 14 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Truck Driving & CDL — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 96 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 68/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Truck Driving & CDL Graduates Do
Your career in ground transportation puts you directly in the driver’s seat of the economy. You might be navigating a tractor-trailer on cross-country routes, managing logistics and conducting pre-trip inspections on your rig. Or, you could be the local link in the supply chain as a light truck driver, making time-sensitive deliveries across town and interacting with customers daily. Another path involves operating heavy equipment like bulldozers or excavators, shaping the landscape at construction sites.
Read more
Many drivers begin with local delivery or shuttle routes to build experience before earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This license unlocks higher-paying roles in heavy trucking or transit bus operation. With strong overall demand and fast-growing roles like light truck driving, your skills will be highly sought after. This is hands-on work that requires real-world problem-solving and a physical presence, skills that can't be done from home or easily automated. As you gain experience and specialized endorsements, your earning potential increases significantly, moving you from a solid starting salary to a top-tier income.
Related programs worth comparing: Aviation and Marine Transportation.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 14 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Truck Driving & CDL. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Asphalt Paving Machine Operator (Alt. Title: Concrete And Asphalt Equip Op)
RAPIDS 872 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $45K – $51,650 – $66K | 3.2% |
|
Construction Driver
RAPIDS 1032 |
2400 hrs
~1.2 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
|
Dredge Operator
RAPIDS 117 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $46K – $48,430 – $60K | 1.2% |
|
Driver Service Provider (Existing Title: Truck Driver, Heavy)
RAPIDS 980 |
5000 hrs
~2.5 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
|
Elevating-Grader Operator
RAPIDS 138 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $58,710 – $76K | 3.6% |
|
Heavy And Tractor Trailer Truck Driver (Existing Title: Truck Driver, Heavy)
RAPIDS 0980CB |
Competency | Competency | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
|
Locomotive Engineer
RAPIDS 287 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $73K – $77,400 – $84K | 0.7% |
|
Motor-Grader Operator
RAPIDS 932 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $58,710 – $76K | 3.6% |
|
Operating Engineer
RAPIDS 0365HY |
4000-6000 hrs | Hybrid | $48K – $58,710 – $76K | 3.6% |
|
Operating Engineer (Alternate Title: Heavy Construction Equipment Mechanic)
RAPIDS 365 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $48K – $58,710 – $76K | 3.6% |
|
Truck Crane Operator (Alternate Title: Crane Operator)
RAPIDS 14 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $51K – $66,370 – $82K | 3.0% |
|
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Freight Driver)
RAPIDS 980 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
|
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Commericial Bobtail, Utility, Or Transport Driver, Propane)
RAPIDS 0980CB |
CB hrs | Competency | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
|
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Motor Transport Operator)
RAPIDS 0980HY |
3000-4560 hrs | Hybrid | $47K – $57,440 – $66K | 4.0% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Truck Driving & CDL Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Truck Driving & CDL is offered at 96 schools across 29 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Truck Driving & CDL Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Truck Driving & CDL programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
Top 20 of 96 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
Highest Earning Truck Driving & CDL Programs
Schools where Truck Driving & CDL graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Community College | $74,114/yr | 95 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | $67,999/yr | 92 |
| Central Lakes College-Brainerd | $64,164/yr | 90 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | $60,943/yr | 79 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | $59,330/yr | 90 |
| Hagerstown Community College | $53,495/yr | 89 |
| Elgin Community College | $51,945/yr | 90 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island | $51,761/yr | 74 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts | $51,761/yr | 74 |
| State Technical College of Missouri | $50,941/yr | 84 |
Best ROI for Truck Driving & CDL
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Truck Driving & CDL.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson-Davie Community College | 327.5x | $41,081/yr | 87 |
| Johnson County Community College | 326.6x | $74,114/yr | 95 |
| Elgin Community College | 192.4x | $51,945/yr | 90 |
| West Georgia Technical College | 179.5x | $43,072/yr | 87 |
| Cape Fear Community College | 167.6x | $46,329/yr | 88 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | 167.5x | $43,652/yr | 87 |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | 160.0x | $45,980/yr | 88 |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | 147.1x | $40,590/yr | 85 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | 141.2x | $49,142/yr | 88 |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College | 129.3x | $24,514/yr | 72 |
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