The federal government requires drivers to get a special commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or to carry hazardous materials or oversized loads. Most prospective drivers take training courses at technical or vocational schools to prepare for the CDL test, according to the Department of Labor. Such courses are often required by trucking companies as a condition of employment and are also required for all drivers in some states. Courses that have certification from the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) have met industry standards and Federal Highway Administration guidelines, according to the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Students in these programs might also be eligible for some federal student grants to cover some or all of the tuition. Training programs can cost between $3,000 and $7,000, according to truckingtruth.com.
Federal grants are not generally available for individual job training, but if you are receiving unemployment benefits or are a veteran, you may be eligible for Workforce Investment Act grants distributed through your state or for GI bill job transitional assistance. If you are a veteran honorably discharged from the military, you might also be eligible for a scholarship through The Commercial Driver Training Foundation, Inc. Individual states might also offer some type of workforce training assistance. The training program you chose should have information about the funding options available in your state.
Many truck driving training programs do not have enough credit hours for students to qualify for federal student aid, with the exception of programs with PTDI certification. Students in those programs may be eligible for Stafford Loans, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant or Work-Study Programs. Students at some programs might also be eligible for private students loans, such as the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan.
While not grants, major trucking companies usually provide some kind of tuition reimbursement program that may pay drivers for the investment they made in their training. Payments from these companies are spread out over several months after drivers have finished training and started working. They generally have maximum payouts, but they should pay for the majority of most training courses. According to Interstate Truck Driving School in Minnesota, major companies pay between $3,500 and $6,500. Some trucking companies also own and operate schools where they offer free tuition for their drivers. In return, drivers must agree to work for the company for a specified amount of time, usually for a year, at a slightly lower rate. If you leave the company before you have made up for your schooling, you will have to pay back a prorated amount of what you owe for the schooling it provided. The advantage of this type of program is you do not have to pay any money up front.