CDL Academy
CDL Academy is a Fort Smith, Arkansas-based, for-profit commercial driver license training school founded in 2019, offering Class A and Class B CDL programs plus endorsement certification to individual students entering the U.S. trucking workforce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersFort Smith, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CDL Academy does
CDL Academy is a private, for-profit commercial driver license training school headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, founded in 2019. The school delivers Class A CDL, Class B CDL, and endorsement certification training (e.g., HazMat, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger, school bus) to individual students seeking entry into the U.S. commercial trucking workforce. With a headcount in the 11–50 range, it operates as a small, single-site vocational training provider in a known freight corridor near I-40 and I-540.
The core service is in-person, regulation-driven driver education: classroom-based preparation for FMCSA knowledge exams, behind-the-wheel range and road training on school-operated tractors and trailers, and preparation for state-administered CDL skills tests and endorsement exams. Training delivery depends on physical assets (tractors, trailers, simulators if any, classroom facility) and FMCSA-recognized instructor credentials under the ELDT framework. There is no documented proprietary curriculum technology, no digital learning platform, and no disclosed technology stack beyond a basic website (cdlacademy.net).
Revenue mechanics are typical of independent CDL schools: per-program tuition paid by individual students, often financed through WIOA workforce funding, military/Veterans benefits, or third-party lender programs. Go-to-market is local and regional, relying on online lead generation, carrier and staffing-agency referrals, and word-of-mouth rather than enterprise fleet contracts. The customer base is overwhelmingly individual career-changers and entry-level drivers rather than corporate accounts, and there are no disclosed partnerships, named employer customers, or government training contracts in the source data. The included "Institutional Asset Journal" content is unrelated financial news and contains no information about CDL Academy.
CDL Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CDL Academy
- Website
- https://cdlacademy.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CDL Academy is a Fort Smith, Arkansas-based, for-profit commercial driver license training school founded in 2019, offering Class A and Class B CDL programs plus endorsement certification to individual students entering the U.S. trucking workforce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CDL Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Driving Training
- NAICS
- Automobile Driving Schools (611692), 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
Where CDL Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Smith
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CDL Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
CDL Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CDL Academy is a for-profit commercial drivers license training school offering Class A CDL, Class B CDL, and endorsement certification training. The school prepares individual students to obtain the credentials required to operate commercial motor vehicles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Class A CDL Training
- Class B CDL Training
- CDL Endorsement Certification Training
Companies that use CDL Academy
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
CDL Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CDL Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves1 record
Expansion highlights1 record
CDL Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Prime Inc. CDL Training: Prime is a large carrier with a dedicated CDL training academy in Springfield, Missouri. It is a broad incumbent in the same regional geography as CDL Academy, offering sponsored training that competes on price.
- Schneider National CDL Training: Schneider operates one of the largest carrier-sponsored CDL training programs in the US, often with reduced or reimbursed tuition. It is a broad incumbent that competes with independent schools like CDL Academy by leveraging its hiring pipeline and employer brand.
- CRST Expedited CDL Training: CRST is a major carrier that runs sponsored CDL training programs in multiple states. It is a broad incumbent competing with independent CDL schools via tuition-sponsored models tied to employment commitments.
Direct peers
- Truck Driver Institute (TDI): TDI is a multi-campus CDL training school operating across the South-Central US. It is a direct peer to CDL Academy, offering Class A CDL training with similar target students and competing for the same regional enrollment pool.
- Western Truck School: Western Truck School is an independent, multi-campus CDL training operator offering Class A and Class B programs. It is a direct peer with similar business model and target student demographic.
- 160 Driving Academy: 160 Driving Academy is one of the largest CDL training chains in the US with multiple campuses across multiple states. It is a direct peer offering Class A and Class B CDL training plus endorsements, competing for the same student demographic as CDL Academy but at significantly greater scale.
- National Tractor Trailer School: NTTS is a long-standing independent CDL training school with multiple New York and Pennsylvania campuses. It is a direct peer offering Class A CDL and endorsement training with a similar independent-school business model.
- Sage Truck Driving School: Sage Truck Driving Schools operates multiple campuses across the South and Midwest, offering Class A CDL and endorsement training. It is a direct peer competing for similar students in overlapping geographies.
- All-State Career: All-State Career operates multiple CDL-focused campuses across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. It is a direct peer offering similar Class A CDL curriculum with comparable target students and tuition structure.
- Mid-State Truck Driving School: Mid-State is a multi-campus independent CDL training school operating in Wisconsin and surrounding states. It is a direct peer with a comparable business model focused on Class A CDL and endorsement certifications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
CDL Academy social profiles
Digital presenceCDL Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CDL Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CDL Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CDL Academy 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 CDL Academy
What does CDL Academy do?
CDL Academy is a for-profit commercial drivers license training school offering Class A CDL, Class B CDL, and endorsement certification training. The school prepares individual students to obtain the credentials required to operate commercial motor vehicles.
When was CDL Academy founded?
CDL Academy was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CDL Academy based?
CDL Academy is headquartered in Fort Smith, United States, in the North America region.
Who are CDL Academy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Prime Inc. CDL Training, Schneider National CDL Training and CRST Expedited CDL Training. Direct peers are Truck Driver Institute (TDI), Western Truck School, 160 Driving Academy, National Tractor Trailer School, Sage Truck Driving School, All-State Career and Mid-State Truck Driving School.
Does CDL Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for CDL Academy.
What industry is CDL Academy in?
CDL Academy's product category is Commercial Driving Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOANAK, Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL), with a secondary code of EDAEADAE, Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks). Its NAICS code is 611692 and its SIC code is 8200.