FAQs About CDL License Programs
A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program is your first step toward an exciting career as a licensed truck driver. When evaluating truck driving schools, you’re sure to have many questions about their programs. Here, Driving Academy answers the most frequently asked questions about truck driver training. Find the answers you need to make a confident choice about your career.
What Are the Types of CDLs?
Driving Academy prepares students to earn three different types of CDLs. These include:
- Class A CDL training: Earning a Class A CDL will allow you to drive tractor-trailers and other vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds, with trailers that weigh more than 10,000 pounds. A Class A CDL enables you to drive a Class B vehicle.
- Class B CDL training: Class B vehicles weigh more than 26,000 pounds and have no trailer. If they have a trailer, it’s under 10,000 pounds. These vehicles include box trucks, delivery trucks, and garbage trucks, among others.
- Class B+P CDL training: With a Class B+P CDL, you can drive a vehicle weighing over 26,000 pounds with a carrier capable of holding 16 passengers or more. Holding a Class B+P CDL will allow you to drive any other Class B vehicle.
How Long Does CDL Training Take?
Driving Academy offers different course structures to meet various needs. The courses you take will determine how long your training takes. Our CDL driver training courses include:
- Guaranteed training CDL courses: Our guaranteed training CDL courses are the most extensive we offer. They feature over 100 hours of training in the classroom and driving in the yard or on the road. These courses prepare students to pass the written and CDL road tests. Students receive unlimited attempts at the road test and access to vehicle rentals.
- Full courses: Students who choose the full courses will train for eight hours a day to pass the written and road tests for their CDL permit and license. These courses include a limited number of vehicle rentals, plus support from our lifetime job placement program.
- Half courses: For students who already have CDL permits but need to pass the road test, half courses are a great option. Students bypass classroom training and start with yard training, which involves pre-drive inspection training, basic skills and parking maneuvers, and proper road driving. Half courses also come with a limited number of road test rentals.
Other options include refresher courses and custom corporate training courses. Refresher courses are for truck drivers who don’t have recent experience on the road. You’ll regain skills like inspecting and parking your truck. Custom corporate training courses are for employers who need their employees to have CDL licenses.
With flexible schedules, you can work at your own pace and get on the road quickly.
I Already Have My CDL Permit. Do I Have to Take the Entire Course?
No – at Driving Academy, we pride ourselves on offering you multiple options for CDL training. Our half courses are for students who already have their CDL permits but need to prepare for the road test.
How Much Does CDL Training Cost?
Multiple factors can affect how much CDL training costs, including the program, the type of courses you complete, and additional certifications you might seek. At Driving Academy, we understand that pursuing any training requires a considerable investment on the student’s part. It’s why we offer affordable payment plans that start as low as $500 down to students who qualify. These plans help ease costs as students work toward their licenses.
How Old Must I Be to Seek a CDL license?
You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. If you want to travel outside your home state to pursue work, you must be at least 21 years old.
Am I Eligible for a CDL License?
You need three components to pursue a CDL license:
- Valid driver’s license
- Social Security number
- Physical health in good enough condition to pass a D.O.T. physical
What Is the D.O.T. Physical? Where Can I Have It Done?
D.O.T. stands for Department of Transportation. A D.O.T. physical is a medical exam that ensures you meet established standards to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Only those medical professionals qualified as licensed medical examiners can conduct a D.O.T. physical. These professionals are listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry.
Driving Academy has a connection in the New Jersey area that charges $100 for D.O.T. physicals. You can call us at 908-525-3609 for more information.
Where Do I Take the CDL Road Test?
Driving Academy is a certified third-party CDL testing site. We can train you and then conduct the road test. You learn from the same instructors who will guide you in taking the road test. Plus, you won’t have to go to the DMV to take the test, allowing for a less stressful experience.
How Experienced Are the Instructors?
At Driving Academy, our mission is to get 1,000,000 people on the road to freedom by earning their CDL licenses. This is only possible because we hire some of the most experienced instructors in the industry. Indeed, our founder, who’s also the lead instructor, is from a family of professional CDL drivers and instructors. In addition to their expertise, these instructors are passionate about seeing their students thrive. They will guide you through each step of your training.
Does Driving Academy Offer Training Simulators?
Part of what makes Driving Academy unique is our simulation training. We’re one of the few truck driving schools in the country that offers these simulators, which are made by the companies that develop airplane simulators.
With simulation training, students will complete years of training in days that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. State-of-the-art simulators mimic all weather conditions and different terrains, such as mountains and city driving. They also help students with parking. Most importantly, simulation training teaches students to drive a manual transmission (stick shift). Approximately 20% of your training will include simulation.
What Type of Transmission Will I Train On?
Driving Academy allows you to pick automatic or manual transmission for truck driver training.
Can I Take the CDL Road Test Using Automatic Transmission?
Yes, Driving Academy offers that option. However, it will place an automatic restriction on your license.
Can I Take the CDL Test in Spanish?
The written tests can be completed in English or Spanish. However, the road test can only be done in English. So, students must understand verbal directions in English to take it. Driving Academy has instructors who speak Spanish to help you prepare for the road test.
Does Driving Academy Help with Job Placement?
Yes, we offer a lifetime job placement program. This means that as long as students work, they can seek career help from Driving Academy. We can help you find jobs that are local, regional, and over the road. We can also point you toward owner/operator opportunities. We have an exclusive job board accessible only to students of Driving Academy. If you’re having difficulty finding a job, we can devise a personalized plan for guidance.
CDL License Training at Driving Academy
Ready to achieve freedom in your career with a CDL license? Choose the truck driver training programs at Driving Academy. Headquartered in Linden, NJ, we serve truck drivers nationwide with flexible training schedules available seven days a week*. You can design a schedule that meets your needs while accommodating other responsibilities. Contact us today with more questions about earning your CDL license at 908-525-3609.
*Please note: Hours may differ depending on location.
You must be at least 18 years old with a VAILD Drivers License. You must be 21 or older if you want to travel out side of your home state for work.
You must get a D.O.T Physical done at a D.O.T Certified Doctor. If you are in the New Jersey area you can go to our doctor he charges $100. Give us a call for more details. 908.525.3609
No you do not! We have many types of courses available. We have half courses available for people who already come in with the permit. This course will just get you ready to pass the CDL road test.
You need 3 things in or to get a CDL. 1. Valid Drivers License 2. Be Healthy Enough to Pass a D.O.T Physical 3. Have a Social Security Number
The CDL road test can only be done in English. This means you will have to understand verbal directions in English to take the test. However the written tests can be done in Spanish or English. Driving Academy has instructors that can speak spanish and help you get ready for the road test!
Yes, as long as your Drivers license is still valid you can get a CDL. When you sign up with our school we will even help you find a Job with our life time Job Placement Program!
Yes, you can! You will just have an automatic restriction on your license if you do.
Driving Academy offers BOTH options. The student gets to pick if they want an automatic or manual truck.
