To become a truck driver, you must attend and graduate a licensed truck driving school and earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Tampa Truck Driving School provides state-approved CDL training that prepares you to pass your CDL exams and start driving professionally as quickly as possible.

Truck driving is a regulated profession. You cannot legally operate a commercial truck without proper training and a CDL.

A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required to legally operate large commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and commercial buses. The most common license for over-the-road trucking jobs is a Class A CDL.

Federal and State regulations require new drivers to complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through a licensed CDL training school before taking the CDL skills test.

Truck driving school:

• Teaches hands-on driving skills
• Prepares you for CDL written and road tests
• Trains you on safety, inspections, and regulations
• Makes you more employable to trucking companies

Skipping school isn’t an option – and choosing the right one matters.

Our training program is 3 weeks and most students are able to pass their CDL exam in that time. Our goal is to get you road-ready fast without cutting corners.

No experience required. Tampa Truck Driving School trains beginners from day one. If you can legally drive a regular vehicle and meet CDL eligibility requirements, we can train you.

To enroll and earn your CDL, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (21 for interstate driving)
• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Pass a DOT physical exam
• Pass a drug screen
• Have a clean enough driving record to qualify
• Be a lawful permanent resident or US citizen
• Be able to prove Florida residency

Our team helps guide you through each step.

Yes! And that’s the point. Our training is test-focused and job-focused. We prepare you for:

• CDL written exams
• Pre-trip inspection
• Backing maneuvers
• On-road driving test

We don’t just teach theory – we teach what actually gets you licensed.

Yes! We work closely with a multitude of trucking companies that actively hire new CDL graduates. Before you enroll in training, we get you placed with a company so you have a job waiting on you when you graduate.

A CDL is not just a license – it’s a career starter.

Entry-level truck drivers commonly earn $50,000-$70,000 per year, with experienced drivers earning significantly more. Specialized routes, endorsements, and long-haul positions can increase income even further.

Truck driving offers:

• High demand positions
• Nationwide job security
• Fast entry into the workforce
• No college degree required

Because this isn’t a hobby – it’s your livelihood.

We offer:

• Licensed, professional CDL instruction
• Hands-on behind-the-wheel training
• Fast-track programs
• Career-focused education
• Lifetime job placement
• Support from enrollment to employment

We don’t just train drivers. We launch trucking careers.

The short answer is no—you do not get paid while you are in school earning your CDL license.

Here’s why:

There are two phases to becoming a professional truck driver.

Phase 1: CDL Training (School)
This is when you attend a licensed truck driving school to earn your CDL. During this phase, you are a student—not an employee—so no trucking company in the U.S. pays you while you’re earning your CDL.

Phase 2: On-the-Job Training (After CDL)
Once you have your CDL and are hired by a trucking company, you will complete on-the-road training with a company trainer. This is when you start getting paid, typically $500–$700 per week, depending on the carrier.

Important warning:
When you see online ads claiming “Paid CDL Training,” read the fine print. They are almost always referring to Phase 2 (after you already have your CDL)—not CDL school itself.

At Tampa Truck Driving School, we believe in transparency. We train you to earn your CDL first, then help position you for paid driving opportunities immediately after.

No gimmicks. No misleading ads. Just the straight road to a trucking career.

The problem with contract training is that they will only pay you $.12-$.20 cents per mile for your first year during your contract term, which will be around $20k in lost wages. Also, there is a reason that they need to sign you to a contract. You will be required to stay out on the road for months at a time with little to no home time.

In order to receive federal financial aid, a program must be a minimum of 10 weeks long and 300+ hours. We believe our expedited program of 3 weeks is more beneficial because it gets you to work quicker and start making money faster. If you are able to qualify for our full finance program, we can bring you in the program with no money out of pocket for tuition.

We start a new class every Monday. We believe in getting you on the road to your new career as quickly as possible.

We don’t just help—you won’t start our program without a job lined up.

Before you ever begin CDL training, we connect you with a trucking carrier and secure a written job offer. That means no guessing, no hoping, and no wondering if you’ll be hired after graduation.

You start training knowing exactly where you’re going next.

Our goal is simple: get you licensed, get you hired, and get you on the road earning—fast.

Eventually—yes. Right away—usually not.

Most local, home-daily trucking jobs require 6 months to 1 year of over-the-road (OTR) experience. That experience is what makes you valuable to local companies.

We help you do this the smart way.

First, we place you with a reputable OTR carrier where you can gain experience and earn solid income. During this phase, you should expect approximately 1 day home for every 7 days on the road.

Once you’ve built at least 6 months of safe driving experience, we actively help you transition into local, home-daily positions, depending on availability. These roles are commonly with well-known companies such as Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Budweiser.

Bottom line: start OTR, build experience, then move local. It’s the fastest and most realistic path to being home every night—and we help you every step of the way.

A medical marijuana card does not disqualify you from obtaining a Class A CDL license in Florida or attending Tampa Truck Driving School. However, you’ll need to pass a 5-panel DOT drug screen which tests for THC (marijuana), Cocaine, PCP, Opiates, and Amphetamines. Federal law prohibits failing or refusing a drug screen to drive a tractor-trailer, so being clean is essential for truck drivers.

Getting started is simple:

1. Contact Tampa Truck Driving School
2. Speak with an admissions advisor
3. Enroll in CDL training
4. Earn your CDL
5. Start driving professionally

Your trucking career starts here!