Bates Technical College is located in Tacoma and trains drivers for the Class A CDL, which allows you to drive single or combination vehicles of any size. The course also gives all endorsements necessary for transport of hazardous materials. It operates on a full-time schedule Monday through Friday and lasts for 108 days or 22 weeks. Tuition is $4,714 as of 2010 in addition to the fees associated with the course, which can add up to $1,000. Financial aid is available for low-income applicants or those receiving temporary assistance for needy families.
Big Bend Community College is located in Moses Lake. It provides both classroom instruction and actual driving experience to allow students to enter into an entry-level position. Classes cover defensive driving, brake adjustment, hazardous materials, Department of Transportation (DOT) log books and trip planning, among others. The course is six weeks long and requires 80 hours of classroom instruction and 160 hours of driving. The cost of the program is $3,266 in addition to fees. Although federal grants are not available, the financial aid office does allow an application for a loan for up to $1,615 as of 2011.
Grays Harbor College offers a commercial truck driving program that allows you to obtain your Class A CDL in 15 weeks. The classes are two days a week for the beginning and two different days for the advanced core classes. The total costs as of 2010 are from $5,579 to $5,679. Funding options include financial aid, veterans' benefits and worker retraining.
The commercial driver training program at South Seattle Community College teaches individuals how to work for truck driving companies, both those that travel locally and those that require long trips possibly across the country. The program lasts for 11 weeks and requires 360 hours of instruction, some in the classroom and some on the road practicing. It is available in a fall, winter or spring quarter. Students must pay $1,150 in tuition for the 2009 to 2010 year along with $1,650 in lab and program fees. Assistance is possible for some students from the worker retraining office, which provides financial aid to individuals who want or need to develop their skills further to secure a job.
The CDL program at Walla Walla Community College is a short-term program that allows you to obtain your CDL. The course focuses on the specialized areas of qualification, service hours and the physical wellness required in order to analyze whether you are in physical condition suitable to receive a CDL.