ATDS, Prairie Hill

What ATDS, Prairie Hill does

ATDS (American Truck Driving School), founded in 1982, is a private for-profit provider of Class A commercial driver license (CDL) training operating seven campuses across Texas and Oklahoma. The core product is a unified Class A CDL program delivered in two formats: an accelerated 4-week Monday–Friday course (7 AM–6 PM) and a 10-weekend Saturday–Sunday course, combining classroom instruction with hands-on behind-the-wheel practice on private ranges and public highways. Supplementary services include state-approved in-house third-party CDL testing, lifetime job placement assistance (reportedly 96.3% placement), financing options, GI Bill acceptance for veterans, and driving simulators at certain campuses. Training equipment spans modern manual and automatic transmission tractors and trailers, and graduates receive a Class A CDL, a defensive driving certificate, an ATDS diploma, and a community college certificate from co-located partner institutions.

The business operates on a one-time tuition revenue model, with students enrolling directly through phone consultation and the company website (truckingschool.com). Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer enrollment with channel partnerships: ATDS is co-located with McLennan Community College (Waco/Elm Mott), Central Texas College (Killeen), South Plains College (Lubbock), and Hill College (Cleburne), providing shared credentialing and a recruitment funnel. Carrier partnerships with Werner Enterprises, Schneider, TMC Transportation, and Melton Trucking Lines send recruiters to campuses during training, creating employer pull. The company markets via educational blog content, website lead capture, and a recently launched instructor hiring pipeline. An El Reno, Oklahoma campus is slated to open April 6, 2026, and an Ardmore, Oklahoma location operates as the wholly-owned subsidiary Arbuckle Truck Driving School. ATDS is privately held with no disclosed revenue, headcount, or institutional ownership.

Name

ATDS, Prairie Hill

Legal name

ATDS

Website

https://truckingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ATDS is a private for-profit CDL truck driving school founded in 1982, operating seven campuses across Texas and Oklahoma that deliver Class A CDL training, in-house testing, and lifetime job placement to career seekers, working adults, and military veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Truck Driving Education

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

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

• Class A CDL training
• Truck driving school
• Commercial driver education
• Vocational CDL programs
• Truck driver job placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Elm Mott

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CDL Training Tuition: One-time tuition fees for CDL training programs. ATDS offers financing options to help make training affordable.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ATDS is a vocational truck driving school that delivers Class A CDL training through classroom instruction combined with behind-the-wheel practice on private ranges and public highways, supplemented by driving simulators and a modern manual/automatic transmission fleet. The school operates 7 campuses across Texas and Oklahoma, offering 4-week weekday and 10-weekend program formats, in-house state-approved CDL testing, and lifetime job placement services with a reported 96.3% placement rate.

Product overview

ATDS (American Truck Driving School) is a CDL truck driving school offering a unified training program focused on Class A CDL preparation. The core offering is the Class A CDL Training Program, available in two formats: an accelerated 4-week weekday program and a 10-weekend program. The school provides additional services including lifetime job placement assistance with a 96.3% placement rate, in-house CDL testing, financial assistance options, and GI Bill acceptance for veterans. ATDS operates multiple campus locations across Texas and Oklahoma with partnerships with community colleges. The school has been in operation since 1982.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Class A CDL Training Program Comprehensive Class A CDL training program combining classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel experience on private ranges and public highways to prepare individuals for commercial truck driving careers. Available in 4-week weekday or 10-weekend program formats.
• Weekday CDL Program Intensive 4-week Monday-Friday CDL training course running 7 AM-6 PM, providing an accelerated path to obtaining a Class A CDL for students who can attend full-time.
• Weekend CDL Program 10-weekend Saturday-Sunday CDL training course running 7 AM-6 PM, offering flexible scheduling for students with weekday work, family, or other commitments.
• Job Placement Assistance Lifetime job placement services connecting CDL graduates with trucking carriers including Werner Enterprises, Schneider, TMC Transportation, and Melton Trucking Lines, achieving a 96.3% placement rate. Recruiters visit campus during training.
• CDL Testing Services State-approved third-party CDL testing and in-house examiner services allowing students to learn and complete their CDL skills test at the same ATDS campus.
• Financial Assistance Financing options and tuition assistance programs to help make CDL training accessible for qualifying students who cannot pay tuition upfront.
• GI Bill Acceptance Educational benefits acceptance for eligible military veterans pursuing Class A CDL training through the GI Bill program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.3% job placement rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Werner EnterprisescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor trucking company that actively recruits ATDS graduates. Werner Enterprises is a leading trucking company with decades of experience in freight shipping and logistics management.
• SchneidercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProminent trucking company committed to safety that actively recruits ATDS graduates. Known for high-visibility Omaha Orange fleet color.
• TMC TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrucking company known for integrity, innovation, highly trained drivers, prestigious late-model equipment, superior safety record, and unwavering dedication to quality. Actively recruits ATDS graduates.
• Melton Trucking LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrucking company that seeks out ATDS graduates for employment opportunities.
• McLennan Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership associated with ATDS Waco/Elm Mott campus, providing enriched learning experience and credentialing.
• Central Texas CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership associated with ATDS Killeen campus, providing enriched learning experience and credentialing.
• South Plains CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership associated with ATDS Lubbock campus, providing enriched learning experience and credentialing.
• Hill CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college partnership (Hill College-Cleburne Campus) associated with ATDS Cleburne campus, providing enriched learning experience and credentialing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider National CDL Training: One of ATDS's named placement partners, but Schneider also runs internal CDL training programs for new drivers. Comparable as a broader industry player that both recruits from ATDS and competes for students through its own paid CDL training program.
• Werner Enterprises CDL Program: Major trucking carrier and ATDS placement partner that also offers its own CDL training pathway (Werner Drivers Academy / paid CDL training). Comparable as a large incumbent carrier participating in the CDL training ecosystem.
• Prime Inc (Trucking Academy): Major national trucking carrier that operates its own CDL training academy. Comparable to ATDS on CDL training product and serves as both a competitor (in-house training) and a placement partner model example for ATDS.
• C.R. England CDL Training: Large national trucking carrier with its own CDL training schools across multiple states. Comparable as both a competitor and a model for carrier-owned CDL training pipelines that ATDS competes against for students and placement.

Emerging players

• All-State Career School: Regional career and technical training school offering CDL training among other programs. Comparable to ATDS on vocational training mission and adult learner segments, with overlap on CDL curriculum but broader program portfolio.

Direct peers

• Roadmaster Drivers School: One of the largest CDL training school networks in the US with multiple campuses across several states, offering similar Class A CDL programs and job placement services. Directly comparable to ATDS in core product (4-week CDL), target student (career changers), and placement-led GTM motion.
• Sage Truck Driving School: CDL training school operating multiple campuses, offering Class A CDL programs with job placement assistance. Comparable to ATDS in target market (career seekers), program structure, and carrier partnership model.
• 160 Driving Academy: National CDL truck driving school chain with multi-state campus footprint, providing Class A CDL training and carrier job placement. Directly comparable to ATDS on curriculum, financing, and recruiter-driven placement partnerships.
• TDI - Truck Driver Institute: CDL truck driving school with multi-state campus presence focused on Class A training and job placement. Comparable to ATDS in product offering, student segments, and placement-led value proposition.
• National Tractor Trailer School: Long-established CDL training school offering Class A CDL programs. Comparable to ATDS on core curriculum, hands-on training model, and professional driver certification focus, though concentrated in the Northeast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atds-truck-driving-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ATDS, Prairie Hill