CDL Training School Akron, Ohio
Get on the road to freedom with a career in trucking. We provide expert training at Driving Academy in Akron, Ohio, to help you earn your Class A or Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Our certified instructors will give you the skills you need to succeed in this growing industry. Discover how our CDL school can put you on the fast track to a fulfilling career and get you on the road to freedom!
Want A CDL?
At Driving Academy in Akron, Ohio
Getting people on the Road to Freedom is what we do best!
- Unlimited CDL Training Courses
- Open 7 Days Per Week
- Nights & Weekend Training
- Start with Just $500 Down
- Free Lifetime Job Placement
Get More Information
Why Choose Driving Academy in Akron, Ohio
Discover your future on the road with a career in commercial truck driving—a field with a strong job outlook and a great deal of flexibility and independence. At our Akron, OH location, our CDL training provides everything you need to succeed. The program is a comprehensive 100 hours of classroom learning and hands-on, practical training, ensuring you are fully prepared for both the written and road tests.
We’ve designed our training to fit your life, with flexible class options available seven days a week. This makes it easy to work your training around your existing commitments. To make quality education more accessible, we offer payment plans with a down payment as low as $500. Additionally, all graduates receive lifetime job placement assistance, so you’ll never have to worry about finding your next opportunity.
Our convenient location is easy to find. We are located across from Akron Fulton Airport, the former home of the Goodyear Blimp and located just south of the Goodyear World Headquarters.
Ohio
School Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 2 pm
CDL Training Programs in Akron, Ohio
Driving Academy’s program in Akron offers programs for three CDL license classifications, including:
- Class A: This is the most popular license. It allows you to drive vehicles over 26,000 pounds with trailers over 10,000 pounds.
- Class B: This is the license for box trucks and delivery trucks. It allows you to drive commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds with trailers under 10,000 pounds.
- Class B+P: This is a passenger-endorsed license. You can operate any Class B vehicle that can transport 16 or more passengers, such as school, city, or tour buses.
Whichever program you choose, you’ll receive opportunities to gain practical experience. Our experienced instructors combine classroom learning, hands-on practice in our 2.5-acre attached training yard, and state-of-the-art simulators, so you develop the skills you need for safe and successful driving
Training Courses in Akron, Ohio
Our Akron, OH location offers varying levels of training within each CDL licensing class, including:
This comprehensive training includes:
- Unlimited CDL training courses: This option provides students with over 100 hours of training and classroom instruction, and multiple chances to pass the CDL tests.
- Classroom courses: These courses prepare students for the CDL permit written test.
- Yard and road training: This training prepares students for their CDL road test.
- Experienced instructors: They offer full and knowledgeable support.
- Vehicle rentals: Students get to practice with one of our vehicles and get unlimited road test attempts.
Our comprehensive courses in Akron, Ohio, transform beginners into skilled operators. You’ll get expert instruction through both classroom learning and extensive behind-the-wheel training. These programs are specifically designed to ensure you pass both your written permit test and the CDL road test with confidence.
If you’ve already earned your CDL permit, our specialized half-courses are perfect for you! We skip the classroom and dive straight into what matters: hands-on yard training to get you ready for the road test. Our training yard is attached directly to our school.
During this focused training, you’ll master:
Vehicle inspection
Essential driving skills
Precise parking maneuvers
Effective on-road driving techniques
About Our CDL Training School in Akron, Ohio
Our story begins with the founder of Driving Academy, Jonathan. His goal was to provide quality CDL training programs to his area, so students could work toward a flexible and rewarding career. His collaboration with a team of associates became Driving Academy. This one location spread across the United States, quickly adding multiple locations.
Our CDL school in Akron, OH is the 14th location. Our experienced staff is excited to help students in Ohio and beyond learn the skills they need to earn their CDL.
Our Instructors in Akron, Ohio
Ready to hit the road in Akron, OH? Tim Jones is the director of the Driving Academy in Akron, Ohio and also serves as an Instructor. John Horvath is also an instructor and brings over 40 years of commercial driving experience and over 25 years as an Ohio Certfied CDL Instructor and Training Manager. Our instructors bring years of diverse experience and deep knowledge, making sure you get the top-tier guidance you need to earn your CDL and help you Get on the Road to Freedom!
Tim Jones- Franchise Owner and Trainer
Tim Jones is the director of the Driving Academy location in Akron, Ohio and serves as an instructor as well.
He has an extensive background in the transportation industry, with over 25 years experience as an international airline pilot and over 5 as a professional driver. Tim flew for both passenger and cargo airlines, recently retiring as a Boeing 767 captain with a Florida based cargo airline. His experience as both a pilot and a commercial driver gives him a unique perspective on safety and professionalism, which he strives to pass on to students. When he discovered Driving Academy, he saw a perfect opportunity to help impart these ideals to new drivers and decided to join the team.
Tim began his driving career during a slowdown in the aviation industry in 2011. He trained in Michigan, obtaining a Class A CDL with double\triple, tanker and hazardous material endorsements. After completing his training, he first drove for a large Missouri based truckload carrier, gaining 48 state and Canadian dry van experience. He later worked as a linehaul driver for the largest privately owned LTL carrier in the United States, where he gained experience with doubles as well as 53 foot dry vans.
In his spare time, Tim enjoys following Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. He and his wife are also avid boaters and love spending time at Lake Erie on their boat.
He’s looking forward to helping drivers in Northeast Ohio get on The Road To Freedom!
John Horvath – Lead Instructor
With a remarkable 40 years of total commercial driving experience, John Horvath brings unparalleled expertise to the classroom and the driver’s seat. For over 25 of those years, he has served as an Ohio Certified CDL Instructor and Training Manager, demonstrating a profound commitment to developing the next generation of safe and skilled drivers. John’s extensive background allows him to share his deep knowledge and real-world insights, ensuring new drivers are not only prepared for their licensing exams but are also equipped with the practical wisdom and safety mindset needed for a successful career on the open road. His patience, expertise, and passion for the industry make him an invaluable mentor, helping countless students achieve their goals and embark on their “Road to Freedom.”
Earl (EJ) Kimbrough Jr.- Instructor
EJ has been a truck driver for almost 25 years. He received his truck driving license in 2001 from C1 Truck Driving School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attained his CDL Class A (PSX) license.
EJ holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive Engineering and has his OSHA 10 safety training certification. For ten of his 25 years driving, he hauled fuel and ethanol in a tanker trailer. He also worked in the oil and construction fields, utilizing his Hazmat certification.
He became a truck driver because he enjoys the freedom of the open road and the diversity of different trucks that help America move forward. EJ decided to become a truck driving instructor to assist new drivers with the knowledge of safety standards on the road, providing them with a diverse view of what it encompasses to be a truck driver in a safe and professional manner. His goal is to help eliminate the possibility of accidents and fatalities that are part of everyday truck driving.
A fun fact about EJ: He wants to travel to Japan with his wife, but he is afraid to fly.
George-Director of Student Morale and Security
Meet George, our official Director of Student Morale and Security. Based right here at our Akron, Ohio, CDL academy, George is key to maintaining a focused and friendly learning environment. His core duties include ensuring student happiness and keeping the spirits high as students train for their CDL. .
Start Your CDL Training in Akron, Ohio!
Ready to earn your Commercial Driver’s License? Join Driving Academy in Akron, Ohio.
Our cutting-edge training facility features advanced simulators that mimic a variety of real-world scenarios, from challenging weather to heavy traffic. You’ll master the necessary skills in our classroom and then put them to the test with hands-on practice in our large practice yard and on the road, ensuring you’re confident and ready for your CDL road test.
Contact us today to learn more and get on the road to freedom!
Need To Know More About Driving Academy?
Take a virtual tour so you can take the next step to getting on your Road to Freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 18 years old with a VALID Drivers License. You must be 21 or older if you want to travel outside of your home state for work.
You must get a DOT physical completed at a DOT Certified Doctor. Please call your school location for more information.
No you do not! We have many types of CDL courses available at Driving Academy. We have CDL half courses available for people who already have their permit. This course will get you ready to pass the CDL road test.
You ONLY need 3 things in order to get your CDL.
- Valid Drivers License
- Be healthy enough to pass a DOT physical
- 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 CDL road 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!
Yes, you can do a CDL road test in a truck that features an automatic transmission! However, you will have an automatic restriction on your CDL license if you do.
Driving Academy offers BOTH types of transmission options. Our students pick whether they want a truck with an automatic or manual transmission.
