Truck Driving Schools Directory
Browse 4,462+ FMCSA-registered CDL training providers across all 50 states. Every school in this directory is listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, the official list of ELDT-approved providers you must train with before earning your Class A or Class B CDL. Pick your state to find a school near you, compare the CDL classes and endorsements each one offers, and get contact details to enroll.
Data study: CDL training across America — 4,462 FMCSA-registered locations by state →
Key Takeaways
- Since February 7, 2022, first-time Class A/B CDL applicants must complete ELDT with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before testing.
- This directory covers 4,462+ registered providers across 51 states and territories, searchable by state and city.
- ELDT has two parts — theory instruction plus behind-the-wheel range and road training — with no federal minimum-hours requirement but a proficiency-based sign-off.
- Compare schools on registry status, program length, total cost, endorsements offered (Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus), and job-placement support.
- After you earn your CDL and operating authority, O Trucking can dispatch you as an owner-operator for a flat weekly rate.
What Is an ELDT-Registered Provider?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires anyone pursuing a first Class A or Class B commercial driver's license — or a first Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement — to complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider listed on the official Training Provider Registry. A school cannot legally certify your training for the CDL test unless it appears on that registry. Every provider in this directory is pulled from that FMCSA list, so you can train with confidence that your hours will count.
What ELDT Requires
Theory Instruction
Classroom or online training covering basic operation, safe operating procedures, advanced operating practices, vehicle systems, and non-driving activities. You must score at least 80% on the theory assessment.
Behind-the-Wheel Training
Hands-on range and public-road driving. There is no federal minimum hour count, but the provider must certify you demonstrated proficiency in every required skill before submitting your completion to FMCSA.
Training Counts Only If the Provider Is Registered
How to Choose a CDL Truck Driving School
- Confirm the school is FMCSA-registered (every provider in this directory is).
- Compare total cost and what it includes — permit fees, testing, and endorsements are sometimes extra.
- Ask how much behind-the-wheel range and road time you actually get, not just the program length.
- Check which license classes and endorsements are offered (Class A, Class B, Hazmat, Passenger, School Bus).
- Look into job-placement help, tuition reimbursement, and company-sponsored options.
- Read reviews and, if possible, visit the yard to see the trucks and meet instructors.
Line Up Your Endorsements Early
Truck Driving Schools by State
Select your state to see every FMCSA-registered CDL school, sorted by city, with the classes and endorsements each provider offers.
After You Earn Your CDL
Graduating from a CDL school is step one. Once you have your license — and, if you go independent, your own operating authority and insurance — you can run as a company driver or as an owner-operator. O Trucking LLC is a third-party truck dispatch service that finds loads, negotiates rates, and vets brokers for owner-operators running under their own MC authority — for a flat weekly rate with no per-load commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ELDT-registered training provider?
An ELDT-registered provider is a school or company listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) and approved to deliver Entry-Level Driver Training. Since February 7, 2022, anyone seeking a first Class A or Class B CDL, an upgrade from Class B to Class A, or a first Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement must complete both theory and behind-the-wheel training with a provider on this registry before they can take the CDL skills or knowledge test.
How do I choose a CDL truck driving school?
Confirm the school is on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, then compare program length, total cost and what it includes (permit fees, testing, endorsements), the class categories offered (Class A, Class B), student-to-truck ratio, job-placement support, and financing or tuition-reimbursement options. Visit in person if you can, ask how many hours of behind-the-wheel range and road time you get, and check whether the school helps you schedule your state CDL skills test.
What does ELDT require?
Entry-Level Driver Training requires a two-part curriculum: theory instruction covering topics like basic operation, safe operating procedures, and vehicle systems, plus behind-the-wheel training on a range and on public roads. There is no federally mandated minimum number of hours, but the provider must certify that you demonstrated proficiency in every required skill. The provider then submits your completion to the FMCSA registry so your state DMV can let you take the CDL test.
Is a CDL school required to get a commercial license?
For a first Class A or Class B CDL, a Class B-to-A upgrade, or a first Hazmat, Passenger, or School Bus endorsement, you must complete training with an FMCSA-registered ELDT provider before testing. This directory lists registered providers by state so you can find one near you.
How much does truck driving school cost?
Tuition varies widely by school, region, and program. Company-sponsored and community-college programs can be low-cost or reimbursed, while private academies often charge several thousand dollars for a full Class A program. Because pricing changes frequently, contact the school directly for current tuition — this directory links to each provider so you can ask about cost, financing, and start dates.
What can I do after I earn my CDL and get my authority?
Once you have your CDL and, if you go independent, your own operating authority and insurance, you can run as a company driver or an owner-operator. O Trucking is a third-party dispatch service that finds loads, negotiates rates, and vets brokers for owner-operators under their own MC authority for a flat weekly rate.
Got Your CDL and Your Own Authority?
Once you're licensed and running under your own MC number, O Trucking finds your loads, negotiates your rates, and vets every broker — for a flat weekly rate with no per-load commission.