Are there weekend or night CDL classes available to accommodate workers in the Birmingham metro area?
Truck Driver Institute’s Birmingham-area campus does not offer strictly weekend or night CDL classes due to the hidden disadvantages they present to students, but the 3-week intensive daytime format is specifically designed to get working adults out of their current job and into a new truck driving career as fast as possible.
This is one of the most common questions Truck Driver Institute gets from people in the Birmingham area who are currently employed and trying to figure out how to make a career change work. The honest answer deserves some context — because the structure of TDI’s program is itself the solution to the scheduling challenge many working adults face.
Understanding Truck Driver Institute’s Schedule Format
TDI’s Birmingham-area campus in Oxford, AL, operates from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Aside from their one-hour lunch break, students spend this time receiving a combination of classroom instruction, range driving, and road driving over the course of three weeks. In their third week, after gaining crucial range and road practice first, TDI students spend an additional four hours practicing nighttime driving.
Standalone weekend-only CDL schools or night-only CDL classes are not part of the standard program offering. However, that framing can be misleading if you stop there.
The reason Truck Driver Institute doesn’t split training into nights and weekends is the same reason the program works: CDL training done right is intensive and sequential. Range skills, classroom instruction, and road driving build on each other day by day. Breaking that sequence across nights and weekends over several months significantly weakens the learning process and extends the timeline before a graduate is ready to start working — and earning. It’s also unsafe for brand-new drivers to only practice at night when limited visibility creates additional challenges before they’ve learned the basics of truck driving in daytime conditions.
| Factor | TDI’s 3-Week Intensive | Part-Time / Night Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Total time to CDL | 3 weeks (15 days) | Often 2–4 months |
| Time out of current job | Short, defined commitment | Extended overlap with current work schedule |
| Skill retention | High — continuous daily practice | Lower — gaps between sessions slow progress |
| Time to first paycheck as a driver | Faster — many students accept job offers before graduation | Slower — longer training period delays employment |
| Lodging available near campus for long-distance students | Yes, all students 50 miles or more from campus automatically qualify for lodging assistance | Typically not available — requires commuting, which takes more time |
How Birmingham-Area Workers Make CDL Training Work
Many TDI students from the Birmingham metro area take 3 weeks off from their current job to complete training — using PTO, a leave of absence, or simply timing their enrollment around a natural break. The short, defined timeline actually makes that easier to plan around than an open-ended part-time program that drags on for months.
TDI also offers lodging assistance, which helps students who need to stay close to the Oxford campus during training rather than commuting daily from across the metro area. New classes start every Monday, so there’s flexibility in when you begin — you’re not waiting for a specific semester or a tight enrollment window like some other CDL programs.
For workers in the Birmingham area weighing their options, it’s worth considering the full picture: three weeks of focused training and a career paying $700–$1,000+ per week is a very different outcome than months of juggling night classes while staying in the same position.
Read more about why TDI doesn’t offer CDL classes at night and the reasoning behind the intensive format. To ask about scheduling options specific to your situation, fill out an online contact form or call a recruiter at 800-848-7364.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General has noted the severity of the truck driver shortage and the need for faster pathways into the profession — which is exactly what TDI’s condensed, full-time format provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TDI offer weekend-only CDL classes at the Oxford, AL campus?
No. TDI’s CDL program runs as a 3-week intensive, primarily during daytime hours. A recruiter can discuss scheduling options based on your specific situation — call 800-848-7364 for details.
Why doesn’t TDI offer night CDL classes?
CDL training is a sequential skill-building process. Splitting it across nights and weekends over several months weakens skill retention and delays how quickly a graduate gets behind the wheel as a working driver. Not only that, but driving at night with limited visibility presents challenges that new drivers are not ready to handle safely before logging practice hours in safer daytime conditions. TDI’s intensive format is built to get students career-ready in the shortest possible timeline while remaining safe and effective.
How can someone currently employed in Birmingham attend TDI’s program?
Most students plan a 3-week leave from their current job. The short, defined timeframe makes it easier to arrange than a part-time program running several months. Lodging assistance near campus is also available for TDI students who need it.
How often do new classes start at TDI’s Oxford campus?
New classes begin every Monday, so students can enroll without waiting for a semester start or enrollment period.
Is the 3-week format enough time to actually be ready to drive professionally?
Yes. TDI graduates leave with their Class A CDL and the foundational skills carriers expect from new hires. Trucking companies often continue on-the-job training after hiring — TDI builds the strong entry-level foundation that makes that possible.
Get Started
Get your Class A CDL in our friendly, supportive CDL training program. TRAIN with experienced instructors – multiple good-paying, secure job choices with benefits available for eligible graduates. EARN $700 – $1000+ / week to start as a truck driver. Get started today by filling out the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!