What The CDL School does

The CDL School, Inc., founded in 1963 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a private, for-profit commercial driver training school operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransForce, Inc., a diversified CDL driver solutions company based in Alexandria, Virginia. The company delivers FMCSA-approved Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory certification (80 hours), Class A and Class B behind-the-wheel (BTW) programs (100, 190, and 90 hour packages), and Hazmat endorsement training through a mix of in-person classroom, online self-guided and instructor-led coursework on a Thinkific-hosted learning platform, and hands-on driving instruction structured around its proprietary CDOR methodology (Comprehension, Demonstration, Observation, Repetition). It operates campuses in Florida (Miami, Fort Pierce, Lake Worth), New York (Albany/Menands), Kentucky (Shepherdsville), and Colorado (Fountain, Wheat Ridge via the United States Truck Driving School brand) and maintains a Troops Into Transportation sub-brand with on-base recruiters at 13+ U.S. military installations.

The company generates revenue primarily through one-time tuition payments from individual students, supplemented by employer-paid fleet training through its Employer Solutions division, and indirectly by government-funded tuition channeled via Post-9/11 GI Bill, WIOA grants, vocational rehabilitation funds, and the Drive For 500 CDL Scholarship co-developed with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Indeed.com. Its go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer enrollment via cdlschool.com, organic search and content marketing, social media, on-base military recruitment, and a B2B employer channel that provides motor carriers (Werner, Schneider, Swift, Covenant, Knight, US Foods, Coca-Cola, TMC, Roehl, CarMax, Melton) with access to graduate hiring. Lifetime job placement support, including the parent-company-operated TF1 Mobile App, and a 97% first-time state CDL exam pass rate are positioned as core retention and conversion assets. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; prospective students are routed through admissions advisors and funded via grants, scholarships, employer reimbursement, or third-party financing.

Name

The CDL School

Legal name

The CDL School, Inc.

Website

https://cdlschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Truck Driver Training

NAICS

Automobile Driving Schools (611692), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL) (EDAOANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks) (EDAEADAE)

Keywords

• Commercial driver training
• CDL certification programs
• Truck driving school
• Entry level driver training
• Fleet driver training

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. CDL Training Tuition: Students pay tuition for ELDT theory, Class A Behind the Wheel, and Class B Behind the Wheel training programs. The school offers multiple training packages ranging from 80 to 190 hours depending on the program.
2. Employer Fleet Training: Motor carriers and private fleets pay for comprehensive CDL training and certification services for their employees, including skill brushing, regulatory compliance training, and defensive driving programs.
3. Government-Funded Training Programs: Revenue received through GI Bill (for veterans), WIOA grants, state/local retraining funds, and vocational rehabilitation programs that fund eligible students' tuition.
4. Employer Recruitment and Job Placement Services: The school facilitates hiring connections between graduates and carrier partners (Werner, Covenant, Schneider, Swift, etc.), with no binding employment contracts required for graduates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The CDL School delivers federally certified commercial driver license (CDL) training through classroom, online, and behind-the-wheel instruction across multiple U.S. campuses, covering Class A and Class B CDL certification, ELDT theory, and hazmat endorsement preparation. The school also operates Troops Into Transportation, a GI Bill-approved veteran program delivered on military bases, and an Employer Solutions division that provides fleet training and graduate hiring access to motor carriers.

Product overview

The CDL School offers a unified truck driver training platform providing comprehensive CDL certification programs including Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory certification, Class A and Class B behind-the-wheel training, and hazmat endorsement preparation. The company operates under three national brands—The CDL Schools, Troops Into Transportation (military-focused), and United States Truck Driving School—with training delivered through classroom instruction, online courses, and hands-on driving. Career services including lifetime job placement support, a carrier partner network, and employer solutions (fleet training) complement the educational offerings. Financial aid services help students fund their education through grants, GI Bill, and scholarship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Troops Into Transportation: Specialized program offering job-first, GI Bill approved CDL training for U.S. Military Veterans and Active-Duty personnel on military bases nationwide.
• United States Truck Driving School

Products and services

• ELDT Theory Certification FMCSA-certified Entry Level Driver Training online course available in self-guided or instructor-led formats; 80 hours of theory instruction serving as the federal prerequisite for CDL licensure, intended for aspiring Class A and Class B drivers.
• Class A Behind The Wheel (BTW) Training Behind-the-wheel CDL training on manual or automatic transmission tractors leading to Class A licensure, offered in 100-hour and 190-hour program packages for aspiring over-the-road and combination-vehicle drivers.
• Class B Behind The Wheel (BTW) Training 90-hour behind-the-wheel program for Class B/BP/BPS driver's license training on manual or automatic transmission vehicles, designed for drivers seeking straight-truck, bus, or commercial passenger certification rather than tractor-trailer combinations.
• Hazmat Endorsement Training Specialized TSA-required endorsement training for CDL holders who transport hazardous materials; an add-on qualification module layered on top of an existing Class A or Class B CDL.
• Troops Into Transportation GI Bill-approved, job-first CDL training program for U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members, delivered on or near military bases with on-base recruiters, and supported by the Drive For 500 CDL Scholarship and apprenticeship pathways.
• Fleet Training (Employer Solutions) Customized CDL training and safety training services sold to motor carriers and private fleets to train existing staff or onboard new drivers, including skill brushing, regulatory compliance, and defensive driving programs.
• Carrier Partner Network Lifetime job placement network connecting CDL graduates with a curated roster of trucking carriers and private fleets (e.g., Werner, Schneider, Swift, Covenant, US Foods, Coca-Cola) that actively recruit from the school's alumni.
• Lifetime Job Placement Services Ongoing post-graduation career support including access to the carrier partner network, referral programs, the TF1 Mobile App for job applications, and resume/placement assistance provided at no binding contract cost.
• Financial Aid Services Admissions-stage support that helps students access WIOA grants, state retraining funds, vocational rehabilitation, GI Bill benefits, tribal education grants, scholarship programs (Drive For 500), employer tuition reimbursement, and third-party lender financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can earn their CDL in as few as 30 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, preferred and minor.

• TransForce, Inc.coreOthersTransForce, Inc. is the parent company of The CDL School, LLC. It is a leader in CDL driver solutions providing the infrastructure, technology (TF1 Mobile App), and corporate oversight for The CDL Schools network. Privacy policy states TransForce and its affiliates (including The CDL School) operate under a shared privacy framework.
• Werner EnterprisesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerWerner Enterprises is listed as an Elite Employer partner of The CDL Schools. As a preferred hiring partner, Werner recruits graduates from the school and participates in on-campus recruitment and job placement services.
• Covenant TransportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCovenant Transport is a Premier Employer partner of The CDL Schools, recruiting CDL graduates for trucking positions.
• SchneidercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchneider is a Premier Employer partner recruiting graduates from The CDL Schools for company driver positions.
• Swift TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwift Transportation is a Premier Employer partner of The CDL Schools, recruiting CDL graduates.
• Melton Truck LinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMelton Truck Lines is a Premier Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• US FoodscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUS Foods is a Premier Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• Knight TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKnight Transportation is a Premier Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• Coca-ColapreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola operates private fleet driver positions and is a Preferred Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• TMC TransportationpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerTMC Transportation is a Preferred Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• Roehl TransportpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerRoehl Transport is a Preferred Employer partner of The CDL Schools.
• U.S. Chamber of CommerceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CDL School partners with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, TransForce, and Indeed.com on the Drive For 500 CDL Scholarships program, offering full-ride scholarships to veterans and their spouses for CDL training.
• Indeed.comflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndeed.com co-sponsors the Drive For 500 CDL Scholarship program alongside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and TransForce, helping veterans and spouses access CDL training scholarships.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (GI Bill)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe CDL School accepts Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for veteran CDL training. GI Bill funding covers tuition and provides apprenticeship assistance for eligible veterans.
• WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe school accepts WIOA government grants to fund CDL training for eligible applicants. WIOA funding typically takes 30-90 days for approval and can cover most or all of tuition costs.
• Vocational Rehabilitation ProgramsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState and private vocational rehabilitation programs fund CDL training for eligible individuals, including injured workers or those in rehabilitation programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Careers / Schneider Driving Academy: Werner, Schneider, and similar carriers increasingly operate captive CDL academies that recruit, train, and employ drivers internally. Represents the largest structural threat to third-party schools and overlaps on Class A training outcomes.

Direct peers

• Phoenix Truck Driving School (Phoenix Class A CDL Truck Driving School): National CDL training provider offering approved ELDT and behind-the-wheel programs with employer partner network. Comparable in curriculum structure, tuition model, and target student segments.
• C1 Truck Driver Training: Multi-state CDL training school offering ELDT-certified Class A/B programs with employer placement networks. Comparable business model and competitive overlap with The CDL School's footprint.
• Premier Truck Driving School: Regional CDL training provider with multiple campuses offering Class A behind-the-wheel and ELDT certification with carrier employer partnerships. Direct overlap in product offering and target student segments.
• National Tractor Trailer School: Long-standing CDL training school in the Northeast offering Class A/B and endorsement training with job placement. Comparable history, curriculum, and employer network to The CDL School.
• New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS): Long-established CDL training provider in the Northeast offering Class A/B programs and job placement support. Comparable operating model with regional focus overlapping The CDL School's NY campuses.
• SAGE Truck Driving School: National CDL training operator offering Class A and Class B programs with multiple campus locations and employer placement services. Closely comparable product mix and student demographic targeting.
• Roadmaster Drivers School: One of the largest CDL training networks in the U.S., operating multi-state campuses with similar Class A/B programs and employer placement partnerships. Direct competitor to The CDL School for individual student enrollment and carrier recruitment.
• CRST Truck Driving School: Carrier-affiliated CDL training program combining tuition-paid training with employment obligation. Competes for the same student demographic seeking paid training, partially overlapping with The CDL School's WIOA/GI Bill funding model.

Others

• TransForce, Inc. (parent ecosystem): Parent company and driver-solutions platform; provides the TF1 job placement app and broader driver staffing network. While not a peer for training, the entity shapes the broader competitive context for graduate placement and fleet services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thecdlschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCDLSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cdl-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecdlschool

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The CDL School