Find CDL Truck Training Options Across the USA

CDL Truck Training helps new commercial drivers learn the skills needed to operate large vehicles safely. If you want to drive a tractor-trailer, box truck, dump truck, passenger bus, school bus, tanker, or other commercial vehicle, you may need a Commercial Driver’s License.

Drivers Lesson is not a CDL school or training provider. It is a marketplace and directory that helps you find, compare, and connect with nearby CDL schools, truck driving schools, instructors, and course providers across the United States.

Many people search for CDL training near me because they want a local program with hands-on practice, permit support, and help understanding state rules. Drivers Lesson makes that search easier by helping you explore available options in one place.

What Is CDL Truck Training?

CDL Truck Training is driver training for people who want to operate commercial motor vehicles. These vehicles often require more skill, more safety knowledge, and more responsibility than a regular passenger car.

A CDL training program may include classroom learning, online theory lessons, permit preparation, vehicle inspection practice, backing practice, range training, road driving, and job-readiness support.

Most CDL students train for:

Class A CDL
Class B CDL
CDL permit tests
Entry-Level Driver Training
Pre-trip inspection
Air brakes
Combination vehicles
Safe road driving
CDL skills test preparation
Endorsements

Federal ELDT rules set baseline training requirements for many new CDL applicants, according to the FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training rules. State licensing agencies may also have their own documents, fees, testing steps, and approval rules.

Who Needs CDL Truck Training?

CDL Truck Training may be helpful if you want to start a trucking career, change careers, upgrade your license, or qualify for commercial driving jobs.

This page is for:

Adult learners starting a new career
Job seekers entering trucking or logistics
Veterans moving into commercial driving
Immigrants and new U.S. residents learning CDL rules
Drivers upgrading from Class B to Class A
People preparing for CDL permit exams
Students comparing truck driving schools nearby
Workers who need a CDL for construction, delivery, transit, or public service jobs

You may also want to explore Permit Preparation Classes if you need help studying for written tests before training.

CDL Training Near Me: What People Usually Want

When people search for CDL training near me, they are usually looking for more than a school name. They want to know if the program fits their schedule, budget, license goal, and local testing rules.

A good CDL search often includes:

Nearby CDL school locations
Class A or Class B options
ELDT theory and behind-the-wheel training
Permit test support
Manual or automatic truck options
Training schedule and course length
Tuition, financing, or payment options
Endorsement preparation
State licensing steps
Job support or employer connections

Drivers Lesson helps you compare CDL training providers so you can ask better questions before enrolling.

Class A CDL vs Class B CDL

Class A and Class B CDL training prepare drivers for different vehicle types. The right choice depends on the kind of commercial driving job you want.

CDL Type	Common Vehicle Types	Best For
Class A CDL	Tractor-trailers, combination vehicles, semi-trucks	Long-haul trucking, regional trucking, freight, larger commercial vehicles
Class B CDL	Straight trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, buses	Local delivery, construction, transit, school bus, public service jobs

Class A CDL training often focuses on combination vehicles, trailer control, coupling and uncoupling, backing, shifting, road driving, and pre-trip inspection.

Class B CDL training often focuses on straight trucks, buses, air brakes, vehicle control, road safety, inspection, and job-specific driving needs.

Some providers offer both. Others focus only on Class A or Class B. Always confirm the license class before you enroll.

CDL Permit Preparation

Before many students begin road training, they need a Commercial Learner’s Permit, often called a CLP. CDL permit preparation helps you study the knowledge test topics required by your state.

CDL permit prep may include:

General knowledge
Air brakes
Combination vehicles
Pre-trip inspection basics
Road signs and safety rules
State CDL manual review
Practice questions
Endorsement study topics

Some CDL schools help with permit prep before hands-on training begins. Others expect you to pass the permit test first. Rules vary by state, so confirm the process with your DMV, DPS, BMV, RMV, FMCSA, or official licensing agency.

If you are newer to driving in the U.S., you may also find Adult Driving Lessons or New Driver Training helpful before moving into commercial driving.

ELDT and Entry-Level Driver Training Basics

ELDT stands for Entry-Level Driver Training. FMCSA rules apply to many drivers who are getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting certain endorsements for the first time.

ELDT may apply if you are seeking:

First-time Class A CDL
First-time Class B CDL
Class B to Class A upgrade
Passenger endorsement
School bus endorsement
Hazardous materials endorsement

Under FMCSA rules, required ELDT must come from a training provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. State licensing agencies may verify completion before allowing certain tests.

This is important. Before you pay for CDL Truck Training, ask if the provider is listed in the Training Provider Registry when ELDT applies to your goal.

Behind-the-Wheel Truck Training

Behind-the-wheel truck training is one of the most important parts of CDL preparation. It gives students real practice with commercial vehicles under instructor supervision.

Training may include:

Cab familiarization
Pre-trip inspection
Basic control skills
Straight-line backing
Offset backing
Alley dock practice
Turning and lane control
Shifting or automatic transmission operation
Coupling and uncoupling
Road driving
Safe following distance
Speed and space management

Some students need more practice than others. Before you enroll, ask how much actual driving time you may receive, how many students train per truck, and whether the program includes road practice.

You can also explore Behind the Wheel Training if you want to understand how hands-on driver training works in general.

Online CDL Courses vs In-Person CDL Training

Some CDL learning can happen online. Other parts must happen in person.

Online CDL courses may help with theory, permit study, safety rules, ELDT theory, and endorsement preparation. They can be useful if you want flexible study time before or during your CDL program.

In-person CDL training is needed for hands-on truck practice. You need real vehicle time to learn control skills, inspections, backing, turning, and road driving.

Many students use both. They study theory online, then complete behind-the-wheel training with a local CDL school or truck driving provider.

Drivers Lesson helps users compare nearby and online options where available. For non-commercial driver education, you can also review Online Drivers Ed.

CDL Endorsements

CDL endorsements allow qualified drivers to operate special vehicle types or carry certain materials. Endorsement rules, tests, background checks, and training requirements may vary.

Common CDL endorsements include:

Hazmat
Tanker
Passenger
School bus
Doubles/triples
Air brakes, where handled as a restriction or test area by the state

Hazmat, passenger, and school bus endorsements may trigger ELDT rules for first-time applicants. Hazmat may also require extra security steps. Always confirm current rules with FMCSA and your state licensing agency.

CDL Truck Training for Immigrants and New U.S. Residents

Many immigrants and new U.S. residents look for CDL Truck Training because trucking can be a practical career path. But CDL rules can feel confusing at first.

You may need to understand:

State residency rules
Legal presence documents
Social Security or alternative document rules
English testing requirements
Medical certificate rules
CDL permit steps
State CDL manual topics
ELDT provider requirements
Road skills testing rules

Drivers Lesson can help you find and compare nearby CDL schools and training providers. Still, you should confirm legal documents, testing language, medical certification, and licensing rules with your state DMV, DPS, BMV, RMV, FMCSA, or official licensing agency.

CDL Rules Vary by State

CDL licensing is connected to federal rules and state-level licensing steps. That means requirements are not always the same in every state.

Your state may have different rules for:

CDL application documents
Permit fees
Testing fees
Medical card submission
Training approval
ELDT verification
Skills test scheduling
Third-party testing
Endorsement testing
Retest waiting periods
License restrictions

Do not rely only on general advice. Before enrolling, confirm current rules with your official state licensing agency and FMCSA.

If you are also preparing for a non-commercial road test, visit Road Test & License Prep.

How to Choose the Right CDL School or Training Provider

The right CDL school should match your license goal, location, schedule, budget, and career plan.

Before choosing a provider, review:

Whether the provider offers Class A, Class B, or both
Whether the provider is listed in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry when ELDT applies
How much hands-on driving time is included
Whether training includes permit prep
Whether equipment matches your testing goal
Whether training is manual, automatic, or both
Whether the schedule fits your work or family life
Total cost, extra fees, and refund policies
Instructor experience
Student-to-truck ratio
Skills test support
Job placement support, if offered

Drivers Lesson does not approve or certify providers. It helps you compare options so you can contact providers directly and make an informed choice.

What to Check Before Enrolling

Before you pay for CDL Truck Training, ask clear questions. A few minutes of research can save you time, money, and stress.

Ask the provider:

Are you listed in the FMCSA Training Provider Registry if ELDT applies?
What CDL class does this program prepare me for?
Is permit prep included?
How many hours are classroom, online, range, and road training?
How much actual behind-the-wheel time will I get?
What vehicles will I train on?
Are there extra fees for testing, retesting, permits, or materials?
Do you help with endorsements?
Do you offer flexible schedules?
What happens if I need more practice?

This matters because CDL training quality can vary by provider, location, and program type.

How Drivers Lesson Helps

Drivers Lesson helps users find, compare, and connect with CDL training providers across the United States. Instead of searching one school at a time, you can explore nearby options and compare what each provider may offer.

Through Drivers Lesson, users can look for:

CDL schools nearby
Truck driving schools
Class A CDL training
Class B CDL training
CDL permit preparation
ELDT training options
Online CDL course providers
Commercial driver training
Driving school categories across the USA

Drivers Lesson is a platform, not a training provider. You should contact each provider directly to confirm training details, pricing, approval status, schedules, documents, and state requirements.

Explore Related Driver Training Options

If you are comparing CDL Truck Training, you may also be interested in other driver training categories on Drivers Lesson. Explore Defensive Driving Courses to learn about safer driving habits and driver improvement options.

Visit Highway Driving Lessons if you want more confidence with merging, lane changes, traffic flow, and highway safety. Review Private Driving Lessons if you need one-on-one driving support before moving toward advanced training. You can also visit Drivers Lesson to explore more driving school categories across the United States.