Commercial Driver School
Commercial Driver School is a privately owned CDL training school operating five campuses in Washington and Idaho, delivering Class A/B/C and Hazmat certification courses with employer-driven job placement support to aspiring commercial drivers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersLakewood, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Commercial Driver School does
Commercial Driver School (DBA: CDS Truck School) is a privately owned, for-profit commercial driver's license (CDL) training institution headquartered in Lakewood, Washington, with five physical campuses across Washington State (Auburn, Lakewood, Olympia/Lacey, Port Orchard) and Twin Falls, Idaho. Founded in 1988 by Victor and Petra Ratz, the school delivers federally compliant CDL training programs — Class A (160 hours), Class B Bus and Truck (110 and 80 hours), Class C (94 hours), and a 16-hour Hazmat certification course — using a classroom, lab/range, and behind-the-wheel curriculum with a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. The school is approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) and, at two campuses, by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to accept Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
The business runs a direct-to-consumer enrollment model: prospective students engage through the website (cdstruckschool.com), a toll-free number (1-888-558-7120), campus tours, and referrals from employer and workforce partners. Classes begin weekly, with both day (6 a.m.–2:30 p.m.) and evening (3:30 p.m.–midnight) schedules Monday through Friday, maximizing throughput across the five campuses. Tuition is one-time per course with financing through TAPCO Credit Union and funding sourced from WorkSource, Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and military benefits, alongside self-pay students. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.
A core commercial differentiator is a recruitment network of more than 1,200 employer partners — including Werner, UPS Freight, Schneider, XPO, Estes, Old Dominion, Sysco, Waste Management, and United Rentals — that actively hire graduates, supporting a claimed 96% job placement rate. This network, combined with the registered "Be Home Every Night®" brand positioning targeting local/regional (rather than long-haul) driving jobs, anchors the school's go-to-market and value proposition. In 2026, the school extended its Hazmat offering online via Zoom, marking its first asynchronous digital delivery channel beyond the five physical campuses.
Commercial Driver School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Commercial Driver School
- Legal name
- Commercial Driver School
- Website
- https://cdstruckschool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Commercial Driver School is a privately owned CDL training school operating five campuses in Washington and Idaho, delivering Class A/B/C and Hazmat certification courses with employer-driven job placement support to aspiring commercial drivers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Commercial Driver School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Driver License (CDL) Training Services
- NAICS
- Automobile Driving Schools (611692), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL) (EDAOANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transportation & Fleet Safety (DOT, Driver Safety) (EDABAEAM), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)
Keywords
Where Commercial Driver School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakewood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Commercial Driver School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CDL Training Tuition: One-time tuition fees for CDL training courses including Class A (160 hours), Class B Bus (110 hours), Class B Truck (80 hours), and Class C (94 hours). Financing options available through partner TAPCO Credit Union and various workforce development programs. Financial aid and GI Bill benefits accepted at select campuses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Class A CDL Training - 160 hours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Class B 'Bus' CDL Training - 110 hours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Class B 'Truck' CDL Training - 80 hours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Class C CDL Training - 94 hours |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Commercial Driver School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Commercial Driver School provides classroom, lab/range, and behind-the-wheel training for Class A (160 hours), Class B (80–110 hours), and Class C (94 hours) commercial driver's licenses, along with a 16-hour Hazmat certification course. All coursework is FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) approved and delivered at five physical campuses with a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. Job placement assistance through 1,200+ employer partners is bundled with training, alongside flexible day/evening schedules, financing, and GI Bill acceptance at select campuses.
Product overview
Commercial Driver School offers a unified CDL training platform with multiple certification tracks. The core offerings include Class A CDL Training (160 hours for combination vehicles), Class B CDL Training (80-110 hours for buses and trucks), and Class C CDL Training (94 hours for passenger/hazmat vehicles). All courses include CDL Permit training and are ELDT approved. Add-on modules include Hazmat Training (16-hour certification) and Job Placement Assistance with 1,200+ employer partnerships. The school operates five campuses (Auburn, Lakewood, Lacey/Olympia, Port Orchard, and Twin Falls, ID) with flexible scheduling including day and evening classes, plus newly launched online options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Be Home Every Night: Company slogan and trademarked tagline emphasizing local job placement for CDL graduates
Products and services
- Class A CDL Training Comprehensive 160-hour commercial driver's license training for combination vehicles over 26,001 lbs. with towed trailers over 10,000 lbs. Includes classroom instruction, lab/range practice, and on-road driving, with all components ELDT-approved by FMCSA for Theory, Behind-the-Wheel, and Range training.
- Class B CDL Training Training for Class B CDLs delivered on two tracks: Bus training for vehicles over 26,001 lbs. with no trailer (110 hours), and Truck training for combination vehicles over 26,001 lbs. with no trailer (80 hours). Includes CDL Permit training.
- Class C CDL Training 94-hour training program for single/combo vehicles designed for 16+ passengers or hazardous materials vehicles. Includes CDL Permit training as part of all courses.
- Hazmat Training 16-hour hazardous materials certification course covering general awareness, familiarization, and fundamentals of hazardous materials transportation per OSHA Hazards Communication Standards. Fulfills Washington state and FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training requirements. Now offered online via Zoom and in-person at five campuses.
- Job Placement Assistance Ongoing job placement assistance provided to graduates throughout their truck driving careers. Includes partnerships with over 1,200 local, regional, and national employers including Werner, Schneider, UPS Freight, XPO, Estes, and Old Dominion. School reports a 96% graduate job placement rate.
- Advanced Vehicle Training Advanced classes on bus and dump truck vehicle training available as additional training beyond standard CDL courses for drivers seeking specialization.
Quantifiable outcome
- 96% of graduates find jobs fitting their needs, preferences and CDL type
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Commercial Driver School
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Commercial Driver School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Commercial Driver School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WernercoreNational trucking company that recruits Class A CDL graduates from Commercial Driver School for employment opportunities.
- UPS FreightcoreNational LTL carrier that partners with CDS for recruiting trained drivers.
- SchneidercoreMajor trucking and logistics company recruiting CDL graduates from CDS.
- EstescoreRegional and national trucking company that employs CDS graduates.
- XPOcoreLarge trucking and logistics company recruiting graduates.
- Old DominioncorePremium LTL carrier partner recruiting trained drivers.
- SyscocoreFood service distribution company hiring CDL drivers from CDS graduate pool.
- McLane NWcorewholesale food distributor recruiting CDL graduates.
- AirgasminorIndustrial gas company recruiting drivers from CDS.
- Oak HarborminorRegional trucking company hiring graduates.
- TAPCO Credit UnioncoreFinancial partner providing financing options for CDL training tuition payments.
- WorkSourcecoreWorkforce development agency providing training funding for eligible adults and dislocated workers.
- Workforce Investment Act (WIA) ProgramscoreFederal workforce development programs funding CDL training for Adults, Displaced Workers, and dislocated workers under WARN and TAA programs.
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)coreState vocational rehabilitation program providing training funding for persons with disabilities.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreVA-approved school accepting Post 9/11 GI Bill and other VA education benefits at Olympia/Lacey and Port Orchard campuses for veteran CDL training.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Commercial Driver School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- All-State Career CDL: Vocational school offering CDL training alongside other trades (HVAC, welding). Comparable CDL curriculum and employer placement, but broader trade-school positioning differentiates scope rather than core CDL offering.
- Schneider Driving Academy: Carrier-run CDL school affiliated with Schneider, a major CDS employer partner. Directly comparable as an alternative training pathway that leverages large-fleet employer recruitment.
- 160 Driving Academy: National CDL training school operating across multiple states with similar Class A/B/C programs and employer placement partnerships. Directly comparable business model, regulatory positioning, and target student segment.
- Roadmaster Drivers School: National CDL training provider with multiple campuses offering Class A CDL, refresher courses, and job placement services. Directly competes in the same regulatory, student demographic, and employer-partner-driven model.
- SAGE Truck Driving School: Regional CDL training school with multiple campuses in the Western US offering similar Class A training, ELDT certification, and employer partnerships. Closely comparable operating model and Pacific Northwest footprint.
- National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS): Long-established CDL training provider offering Class A CDL programs with employer placement. Comparable in curriculum depth, ELDT approval, and dedicated trucking-focused training delivery.
- CRST Truck Driving School: Carrier-affiliated CDL training program operated by CRST, a national trucking company. Comparable curriculum and employer-sponsored tuition model that creates a similar employer-pull demand channel.
- Truck Driving Institute (TDI): CDL training school offering Class A/B training with job placement and financing options. Comparable program structure, target audience, and employer partnership-driven enrollment model.
- C1 Truck Driver Training: CDL training provider offering similar Class A training, financing options, and employer partner placement. Comparable mid-size, multi-market competitor with similar curriculum.
Regional players
- Western Truck School: CDL training school based in California with comparable Class A/B curriculum and employer partnerships. Regional peer operating in the Western US but not directly overlapping the Washington/Idaho territory of CDS.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Commercial Driver School social profiles
Digital presenceCommercial Driver School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Commercial Driver School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Commercial Driver School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Commercial Driver School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Commercial Driver School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Commercial Driver School
What does Commercial Driver School do?
Commercial Driver School provides classroom, lab/range, and behind-the-wheel training for Class A (160 hours), Class B (80–110 hours), and Class C (94 hours) commercial driver's licenses, along with a 16-hour Hazmat certification course. All coursework is FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) approved and delivered at five physical campuses with a 3-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio. Job placement assistance through 1,200+ employer partners is bundled with training, alongside flexible day/evening schedules, financing, and GI Bill acceptance at select campuses.
Is Commercial Driver School a public or private company?
Commercial Driver School is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Commercial Driver School founded?
Commercial Driver School was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Commercial Driver School based?
Commercial Driver School is headquartered in Lakewood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Commercial Driver School make money?
One revenue line is on record: CDL Training Tuition.
Who are Commercial Driver School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are All-State Career CDL, Schneider Driving Academy, 160 Driving Academy, Roadmaster Drivers School, SAGE Truck Driving School, National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS), CRST Truck Driving School, Truck Driving Institute (TDI) and C1 Truck Driver Training. Western Truck School is listed as a regional player.
Does Commercial Driver School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Commercial Driver School.
What industry is Commercial Driver School in?
Commercial Driver School's product category is Commercial Driver License (CDL) Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOANAK, Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL), with a secondary code of EDABAEAM, Transportation & Fleet Safety (DOT, Driver Safety). Its NAICS code is 611692 and its SIC code is 8200.