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CDL School for Elizabeth Residents
Elizabeth sits at the heart of New Jersey’s busiest commercial and logistics corridor. Bordered by major highways, massive distribution centers, and Port Elizabeth, the city offers endless career possibilities for licensed commercial drivers.
Driving Academy’s Linden campus is located right next door to Elizabeth, giving local residents a convenient place to study for their written permit tests, master hands-on yard maneuvers, and earn their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Whether you are starting from scratch, changing careers, or moving up from local delivery and warehouse work into higher-paying driving jobs, our team gives you the tools, confidence, and job placement assistance you need to succeed.
School Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Over 2,500 Five Star Reviews
See Why Students Love Our CDL School
Driving Academy's #1 Mission:
Help 1,000,000 People On Their ROAD TO FREEDOM
CDL Training Programs near Elizabeth, NJ
Driving Academy gives Elizabeth-area students a nearby CDL school option with practical training and clear guidance throughout the enrollment process.
Our state-of-the-art facilities in Union County and experienced CDL instructors provide an immersive learning experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on CDL training.
We offer three types of CDL driver courses:
- Class A CDL: This is the most common type of CDL license and allows truck drivers to drive vehicles such as tractor trailers that are more than 26,000 pounds and has trailer loads more than 10,000 pounds.
- Class B CDL: This license enables drivers to operate commercial trucks such as box trucks with a combined weight of more than 26,000 pounds and trailer loads of less than 10,000 pounds.
- Class B+P CDL: This type of license allows drivers to run passenger buses, as well as Class B vehicles.
Opportunity to Take Different Training Courses at Driving Academy
Students who enroll at Driving Academy in Linden can take different training courses within each CDL licensing class, such as:
- These courses are the most extensive Driving Academy offers. They cover more than 100 hours of training, including classroom instruction to help you pass the written tests for your CDL permit.
- These courses include yard and road training to pass the CDL road test. Students receive unlimited road test attempts and vehicle rentals, meaning full support until passing the written and road tests for a CDL permit.
- Driving Academy’s full courses have been designed to take our students from zero to hero in driving.
- The full courses combine classroom training and behind-the-wheel training in our yard in Linden, NJ.
- Prepares students to pass written exams for a CDL permit and the CDL road test.
- Designed for those who already have a CDL permit, these courses help students prepare and pass a CDL road test.
- Students pass over the classroom training and move to yard training.
- Our yard training includes inspection training, basic skills/parking maneuvers, and proper road driving.
CDL Career Outcomes: Salary & Job Outlook Near Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth is one of the highest-density logistics hubs in the entire Northeast. With direct connections to the New Jersey Turnpike (Exit 13/13A), I-78, Route 1 & 9, and Route 22, CDL holders in Union County are always in high demand.
Truck Driver Pay Near Elizabeth, NJ
Commercial-driving pay near Elizabeth can vary by license class, endorsements, experience, employer, schedule, and route type. These are recent Elizabeth job-category pay references, not guaranteed starting salaries.
ZipRecruiter’s Elizabeth estimate for no-experience Class A driver jobs. Most reported pay falls between $25.14 and $43.22 per hour.
ZipRecruiter’s Elizabeth estimate for CDL Class B driver jobs. Most reported pay falls between $21.11 and $26.63 per hour.
ZipRecruiter’s Elizabeth estimate for CDL bus driver jobs. Most reported pay falls between $17.60 and $25.38 per hour.
Your Career Outlook near Elizabeth, NJ
For Elizabeth residents, earning your CDL at Driving Academy can prepare you for a wide range of commercial-driving paths across North Jersey and the greater Tri-State area. Elizabeth is widely recognized as one of the most critical freight and logistics hubs on the entire East Coast. Connected directly to major shipping terminals, massive distribution corridors, regional airports, and interstate highways, the city gives Class A, Class B, and passenger CDL holders a wide variety of high-demand career directions to explore.
Your career options will depend on your license class, endorsements, driving record, experience, employer requirements, and the types of routes you prefer. Some drivers want local work and predictable schedules that bring them home every night, while others are interested in high-volume port drayage, regional freight lanes, specialized bulk hauling, or over-the-road (OTR) routes across the country.
Because Elizabeth sits right along the New Jersey Turnpike (Exits 13 and 13A), Route 1 & 9, Interstate 78, and Route 22, local drivers enjoy direct access to the supply lines that keep New Jersey, New York City, and the entire Northeast moving. Here is a detailed breakdown of what your CDL career outlook can look like in and around Elizabeth:
Port Elizabeth Marine Terminal & Intermodal Drayage
Elizabeth is home to the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal which is one of the busiest container ports in the United States. This massive maritime facility generates continuous, year-round demand for licensed Class A drivers who specialize in intermodal drayage, container transport, chassis hauling, and rail terminal transfers.
Port-related positions are exceptionally popular among Elizabeth drivers because they offer strong earning potential combined with steady, home-daily schedules. Drivers in this sector move import and export containers between port docks, nearby staging yards, off-site warehouses, and regional rail ramps. Building hands-on experience with pre-trip inspections, electronic logging devices (ELDs), air-brake systems, heavy traffic navigation, and port safety protocols makes you a valuable asset in this market. To maximize your opportunities at the port, many drivers also choose to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) alongside their CDL.
Highway Corridors, Industrial Parks & E-Commerce Freight
Beyond the port docks, Elizabeth serves as an anchor for a dense industrial network extending through Bayway, Linden, Carteret, Newark, Kearny, and the Meadowlands. Industrial parks and logistics centers throughout Union County house major e-commerce fulfillment hubs, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight terminals, cold-storage facilities, and wholesale distribution centers.
This concentrated supply chain creates ongoing demand for both Class A and Class B drivers. Local opportunities include local pick-up and delivery (P&D) routes, dedicated retail store deliveries, linehaul routes between regional distribution centers, and straight-truck drop-offs. Drivers who master backing in tight urban docks, navigating traffic bottlenecks on Route 1 & 9, and executing efficient route planning can secure steady, competitive local employment without having to spend days away from home.
Specialized, Refineries, Passenger & OTR Opportunities
Earning a Class A CDL gives you the flexibility to pursue specialized freight roles that often command higher pay rates. By adding industry endorsements, such as Tanker (N), Hazardous Materials (H), or Doubles/Triples (T). You open the door to unique local and regional driving jobs. For instance, the industrial and refinery corridors near Bayway and industrial Union County frequently require qualified tanker and Hazmat drivers to transport fuel, liquids, and specialized chemicals.
For Class B CDL holders, Elizabeth offers a broad range of local career paths outside of traditional freight trucking. Local operators can drive dump trucks for construction projects along I-78 and Route 22, operate refuse and recycling vehicles, deliver food and beverage goods to local businesses, or operate commercial box trucks. Additionally, drivers who obtain a Passenger (P) endorsement can explore steady roles driving municipal buses, airport shuttle fleets servicing nearby Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), private charter coaches, or school buses throughout Union County.
Whether your goal is to pull container chassis out of Port Elizabeth, run local delivery routes through North Jersey, haul specialized tanker loads, or operate a passenger shuttle, earning your CDL at our nearby Linden campus puts you right next door to one of the most opportunity-rich commercial driving markets in the country. Your license is your foundation and your endorsements, driving record, and personal goals will determine which lane you choose to take.
Local Resources
Navigating the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) doesn’t have to be complicated. Use our local resource guide to ensure you have all your mandatory paperwork and medical clearances in order.
Local DMVs:
NJ MVC Rahway
Rahway, NJ 07065
NJ MVC Newark
Newark, NJ 07114
NJ MVC Edison
Edison, NJ 08837
What You Need To Get Started:
New Jersey MVC Identity Verification
Mandatory CDL Forms & Documents
Getting to Our CDL School from Your Elizabeth Neighborhood
No matter which part of Elizabeth you’re coming from, our Linden campus at 200 East Edgar Road is a straight shot down the same handful of major roads you already know: I-78, Route 1&9, and the NJ Turnpike.
Directions To Our Facility:
Route: Take South Broad Street or local streets toward U.S. Route 1 & 9 South. Follow the Route 1 & 9 corridor toward Linden, then continue on local roads to East Edgar Road.
Drive Time: ~10–15 minutes
Route: Take local streets toward I-278 West. Continue toward Linden, then follow your GPS for the final local connection to East Edgar Road.
Drive Time: ~10–15 minutes
Route: Take I-278 West toward Linden. From there, follow local Linden streets to East Edgar Road and our training yard.
Drive Time: ~10–15 minutes
Route: Take Bayway toward Linden, then continue through local Linden streets to East Edgar Road.
Drive Time: ~10–15 minutes
Route: Take Elmora Avenue toward Linden and continue toward East Edgar Road. Follow your GPS for the final approach to the school.
Drive Time: ~10–15 minutes
Route: Take North Avenue or local streets to U.S. Route 1 & 9 South. Continue into Linden, then take local roads to East Edgar Road.
Drive Time: ~15–20 minutes
Route: Take U.S. Route 1 & 9 South toward Linden. Continue south, then use local streets to reach East Edgar Road.
Drive Time: ~15–20 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! We know our students are busy, which is why our Linden facility runs classes 7 days a week. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and we also offer dedicated weekend training hours. Because our 1-acre yard is fully lit, you can safely complete your behind-the-wheel training after dark.
Absolutely. While the official NJ MVC road test must be taken in English, learning the skills shouldn’t be a barrier. Our Linden campus has a diverse team of instructors who speak Spanish and Creole. They will help you learn the maneuvers and prepare you to understand the English directions required to pass your official test. (¡Se habla español!)
Our Guaranteed Program removes the fear of failing. If you enroll in this course and fail your official CDL road test, you do not have to pay for a new class. We will continue to train you and give you unlimited road test attempts at no extra cost until you 100% walk away with your CDL.
Driving Academy provides lifetime job-placement assistance to graduates who are looking for commercial-driving opportunities. Placement assistance does not guarantee a specific job, employer, schedule, or pay rate, but our team can help you explore opportunities that fit your CDL class and career goals.
No. At the Linden campus, we use a specialized “Circuit-Style” training method. This means multiple trucks and stations are running simultaneously on our 1-acre yard. You are constantly moving, practicing, and getting behind the wheel instead of just standing around waiting for your turn.
CDL eligibility depends on several factors, including your age, driving record, license status, medical qualifications, and the type of CDL you want to obtain. Because every situation is different, the easiest way to find out if you qualify is to speak with a CDL advisor.
You do not need to have the entire CDL process figured out before contacting us. If you are starting from scratch, Driving Academy can help you understand which knowledge tests and endorsements apply to your goal and prepare for your permit. You will need a valid Commercial Learner Permit before taking your CDL skills test.
Yes, as long as your driver’s license is still valid you can get a CDL. When you sign up with our CDL school, we will even help you find a job with our lifetime Job Placement Program!
Driving Academy offers BOTH types of transmission options. Our students pick whether they want a truck with an automatic or manual transmission.
