How Long Does CDL Training Take?

At the Truck Driver Institute (TDI), you can earn your Class A CDL in as little as three weeks. Most full-time truck driving schools take four to seven weeks, and part-time or weekend programs can stretch to several months. Below, you will find a full breakdown of how long it takes to get your CDL, what happens during each week of training, and how TDI’s three-week intensive program compares to a typical CDL school timeline.

TDI offers the most common commercial driver’s license, which is Class A. Class A CDLs are the most popular, as they allow you to haul the same freight and drive the same trucks as a Class B, in addition to heavier freight and longer hauls.

Maybe you have some experience with Class B and want to expand and earn your Class A, or maybe you have no experience at all and want a change in your career. Either way, TDI is here to help you get certified and begin your truck driving career. 

For the full program details, see our Class A CDL training page.

Step 1: Meeting the Requirements Signing Up

Before attending CDL courses and training, it’s important to verify that you meet the basic qualifications to be a truck driver. Requirements may include age, driving record, passage of background checks, and more. These may change depending on your state, however.

Before Feb. 7, 2022, each state had its own requirements. However, the FMSCA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has updated ELDT requirements. Depending on your experience, you may need to take the ELDT: entry-level driver training. This includes much of the same type of training: theory (much like general knowledge) and behind-the-wheel training. 

Some basic requirements that you’ll need to meet include:

• Be 18+ to drive within the state
• Be 21+ to drive across state lines
• Hold a valid driver’s license
  • Depending on your state, you may also be required to have a certain number of years of experience to be a truck driver
• Speak English at a sufficient level
• Be able to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency
• Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical to receive a DOT medical card
• Pass all background checks

You may be disqualified from earning or keeping your CDL if you don’t complete or have these requirements.

Other things to consider when deciding if you’d like to become a truck driver: 

• Are you comfortable spending extensive lengths of time by yourself? 
• Are you responsible enough to maintain and care for your freight on trips? 
• Are you able to pay attention to small details?

Once you have confirmed that you meet these requirements, enrolling at TDI is the easy part. You can start your application online or contact our team to walk through it together. We will help you pick the campus nearest you, choose a start date that fits your schedule, and gather the documents you need before day one. After that, you’re set to begin orientation and start your three weeks toward earning your Class A CDL. 

Step 2: Orientation (Week One)

At TDI, our CDL orientation prepares you to take the written and practical exams and use your qualifying information to get you cleared to drive by the DOT.

First, you must undergo a drug screening and take a DOT physical exam. This is when you’ll receive your DOT medical card, which is valid for 24 months. Drug screenings are necessary because truck drivers must be at attention at all times when driving – even in school.

Second, you’ll receive classroom training covering the materials needed to pass the written CLD test, which you will take that first week. 

Step 3: Continued Classroom Training (Week Two)

Following orientation and passing the written CDL test, you will advance in your training, and classroom materials will cover the aspects of truck driving that live outside of the physical and technical requirements. 

Some things you can expect to cover in week two include: 

• Maintaining logbooks for your driving hours and service requirements 
• How to read a physical map
• Trip planning
• Smith System navigation 
• Weight scales and legal limits 
• Cargo claims 
• Other basic mechanical knowledge

Step 4: Hands-On Training (Week Three)

There is no substitute for time behind the wheel of a real truck, and at TDI that is exactly what you get from our Class A CDL truck driving school. From your first day on the range, you train in actual commercial trucks on our own training grounds – we never use simulators. Every hour you spend learning to handle a tractor-trailer is spent in a real vehicle, the same kind you will drive once you are licensed and on the job. 

This matters more than it might seem and is what sets TDI apart from other truck-driving schools. A simulator experience can show you the basics, but it can’t teach you how a loaded trailer responds when you brake, how the cab feels when you back into a tight dock, or how to read your mirrors mid-turn. These are skills you build by doing, and you build them faster when you’re working with the real thing from the start.

During your hands-on training, you will practice the maneuvers you’re tested on and the ones you’ll use every day as a driver, including:

• Pre-trip inspections on a real tractor-trailer
• Backing, docking, and parking in tight spaces
• Coupling and uncoupling trailers
• Shifting, turning, and lane control on the range

You will complete your hands-on training alongside experienced instructors with hundreds of hours logged on the road, who provide in-the-moment feedback and ensure you’re ready for test day. By the time you take your CDL exam, you will have already done the work in the same kind of truck you trained on, not on a screen. 

Step 5: Taking the CDL Exam

Last but certainly not least, the final step is to take your exam!

There are two components to the final CDL truck driving exam. The first is the written exam which includes general and more specific knowledge like the pre-trip inspection. This exam has federally mandated topics and questions that must be covered to create a baseline for all truck drivers. Although certain requirements differ from state to state, the federal government does have many rules and regulations that all 50 states must adhere to.

The other part is the practical exam, which you would have practiced in the week leading up to this. The practical exam includes a highway test, a street test, night driving, and parking. You’ll have plenty of time to practice with instructors to ensure you’re at your best in every category. Once you have completed, you’re ready to attend graduation. 

How Long Is Truck Driving School?

TDI vs. a Typical CDL School

So, how long is truck driving school? It depends almost entirely on the program’s schedule. A full-time, intensive program is the fastest, while part-time and weekend options take considerably longer. Here is how TDI’s three-week program compares to typical CDL school timelines: 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a CDL?

For most full-time students, it takes about three to seven weeks to get a CDL. At TDI, the Class A program is built as a three-week intensive course, so you can earn your CDL faster than at many truck driving schools. Part-time and weekend programs take longer, often several months. 

How long is truck driving school with no experience?

You do not need any previous experience to start truck driving school. TDI’s three-week program is designed for new drivers, so you can earn your Class A CDL in three weeks even if you have never driven a commercial truck before. 

Can you really get a CDL in three weeks?

Yes! TDI’s full-time schedule covers orientation and your written exam in one week, further classroom instruction and driving range practice in week two, and advanced hands-on driving plus your CDL exam on-site in week three. 

Does the CDL timeline change by state?

Some requirements, such as testing availability and permit wait periods, vary by state. TDI works to schedule your exams as soon as you’re ready, so your timeline stays on track. 

Where Can You Train for Your CDL?

TDI trains new drivers at campuses across the Southeast and Midwest. Find the location nearest you to get started: 

If you don’t live within 50 miles of one of our truck driving school campuses, don’t worry! You may qualify for lodging that will offer you convenience and comfort while you complete your CDL training at TDI. 

Ready to Start Your CDL Training?

If you’re ready to begin your CDL training, contact us today to get started! We’ll help you begin an application and sign up for all necessary training.