United Truck Driving School

What United Truck Driving School does

United Truck Driving School is a family-owned commercial driver license (CDL) training institution founded in 1978, headquartered in San Diego, California, with two physical training campuses in San Diego and Riverside serving the Southern California market. The school delivers three core programs: Class A CDL Training, Class B CDL Training, and a combined CDL-A + Passenger Training program, each ranging from 120 to 186 clock hours (approximately 3 to 5 weeks). Training is conducted in-person through classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training on real commercial vehicles, including triple-axle Freightliner tractors with manual transmissions and full-sized passenger buses, rather than on simulators. The curriculum prepares students for all relevant endorsements (Doubles, Triples, Tanker, Hazmat, Airbrakes, Passenger) and culminates in California DMV written and skills testing.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer vocational education provider. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time tuition payments per program, with pricing not publicly disclosed and prospective students required to contact the school directly. The school has built a layered tuition funding stack that materially expands its addressable student base, accepting VA educational benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, MyCAA for military spouses), WIOA workforce development funding, Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits vouchers, in-house tuition financing, and tuition reimbursement from carrier partners that hire graduates. The school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, approved by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, and registered on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry with ELDT certification. Job placement is delivered through recurring on-campus recruiter events with major national carriers including Swift Transportation, May Trucking, and Melton Truck Lines.

The school employs 23 staff across its two campuses, including owner Christen Hanley, who represents the second generation of family ownership, and admissions representatives at each location. Marketing is conducted through a content blog, organic social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), search engine optimization, and a website-based enrollment funnel. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity, and operates exclusively in the Southern California market with no stated plans for geographic expansion.

Name

United Truck Driving School

Legal name

United Truck Driving School

Website

https://drivetrucks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Truck Driving School is a family-owned CDL training institution founded in 1978 operating two campuses in San Diego and Riverside, California, delivering 3-to-5-week Class A, Class B, and CDL-A + Passenger programs to career changers, veterans, and government-funded students seeking entry into the trucking industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Truck Driver Training

NAICS

Automobile Driving Schools (611692), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL) (EDAOANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Driver Staffing, Training & Compliance (CDL, Background Checks) (EDAEADAE), Powertrain, Drivetrain & Transmission Specialist Training (EDAOAEAJ)

Keywords

• CDL training
• Commercial driver education
• Truck driving school
• Vocational truck driver training
• Behind-the-wheel training

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. CDL Training Tuition: The primary revenue stream comes from tuition fees charged for CDL training programs including Class A CDL, Class B CDL, and CDL-A + Passenger Training. Programs range from 120 to 186 clock hours (3-5 weeks). Financial assistance options include VA benefits, government programs (WIOA), tuition reimbursement from carrier partners, and in-house financing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Truck Driving School is a family-owned vocational training institution that provides FMCSA-certified CDL training programs (Class A CDL, Class B CDL, and CDL-A + Passenger) at two campuses in San Diego and Riverside, California. Programs run 120–186 clock hours (3–5 weeks), include classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training on real commercial vehicles, and bundle tuition with materials, DMV testing fees, and job placement assistance. Financing options include VA benefits, WIOA, MyCAA, carrier tuition reimbursement, and in-house financing.

Product overview

United Truck Driving School is a family-owned CDL training institution founded in 1978, offering vocational truck driver training programs in Southern California. The company provides a portfolio of CDL training products consisting of three core programs: Class A CDL Training, Class B CDL Training, and CDL-A + Passenger Training, which can be enhanced through specialized Women In Trucking programming. These training products are supported by a suite of tuition assistance services including Veteran Assistance (GI Bill, VA Vocational Rehab, MyCAA), Government Programs (WIOA), Tuition Financing, and Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits. The school also provides Job Placement Assistance to connect graduates with trucking carriers. Training is delivered at two physical campus locations in San Diego and Riverside, California, with equipment yards conveniently located near classrooms. The programs range from 120 to 186 clock hours (3-5 weeks) and cover all endorsements including Doubles, Triples, Tanker, Hazmat, Airbrakes, and Passenger.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Class A CDL Training Class A CDL Training prepares students for both over-the-road (OTR) and local entry-level jobs as a Commercial Truck Driver. Students learn the skills required by the DMV to receive a California CDL and earn endorsements in Doubles, Triples, Tanker, Hazmat, and Airbrakes.
• Class B CDL Training Class B CDL Training prepares students for entry-level employment as a Class B CDL Truck Driver and as a Passenger Bus Driver. Vehicles include tow trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, and utility trucks.
• CDL-A + Passenger Training CDL-A + Passenger Training combines Class A and Class B CDL Training with a Passenger Endorsement into one course. Classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training prepare students to pass their written California CDL Exam and skills test, earning endorsements including Airbrakes, Doubles, Triples, Tanker, Hazmat, and Passenger.
• Women In Trucking Specialized CDL training program designed for women interested in pursuing careers in the trucking and transportation industry.
• Veteran Assistance VA Educational programs including Post 9/11 GI Bill, VA Vocational Rehabilitation, Transferred GI Bill Benefits, and Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) for veterans, active-duty military, and their dependents to obtain California CDL training.
• Government Programs Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and vocational rehabilitation programs that help students cover part or all of CDL training costs for eligible individuals.
• Tuition Financing In-house tuition financing available to qualified students directly through United Truck Driving School, with no long financial aid forms required.
• Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits Non-transferable vouchers for injured employees with permanent partial disability to pay for educational retraining at state-approved schools including United Truck Driving School.
• Job Placement Assistance Career assistance program that arranges recruiter visits with employers actively seeking CDL graduates. The Job Placement department helps students find employment and regularly hosts hiring events with trucking carriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• CDL training completed in 3-5 weeks (120-186 clock hours)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Swift TransportationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026Swift Transportation recruiters regularly visit United Truck Driving School's Riverside and San Diego campuses for hiring events. Swift is a major national trucking carrier actively seeking CDL graduates for employment.
• May TruckingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2026May Trucking recruiters visit United Truck Driving School's Riverside campus for hiring events, seeking to hire CDL graduates for trucking positions.
• Melton Truck LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2025Melton Truck Lines is a major flatbed trucking carrier that actively hires United Truck Driving School graduates. Multiple graduates have been shown employed at Melton, including Shaun Valdavia and Lamont Fields.
• Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA)coreOthersUnited Truck Driving School is an approved WIOA Title I financially assisted program provider. WIOA helps strengthen the national workforce by helping individuals gain skills necessary for high-quality jobs.
• California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)coreOthersUnited Truck Driving School is approved by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). This approval certifies the institution meets minimum standards for integrity, financial stability, and educational quality.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SAGE Truck Driving Schools: Multi-campus CDL training operator with similar focus on accelerated Class A programs, real-vehicle training, and carrier placement partnerships. Directly comparable offering and customer segment.
• Roadmaster Drivers School: One of the largest national CDL training chains operating across multiple states. Closest comparable on program structure (Class A/B, endorsements), carrier-funded tuition, and job placement model, but at materially greater scale than United.
• All-State Career School: Multi-state commercial driving school operator offering Class A CDL training, endorsements, and job placement support. Comparable in program scope and target student.
• National Tractor Trailer School: Long-established CDL training school in New York with a similar decades-old operating history and comprehensive Class A/B programs with endorsements. Closely comparable on offering, though East Coast geographic.
• CDS Tractor Trailer Training: Multi-state CDL training school offering Class A and Class B programs with endorsement preparation and job placement assistance. Directly comparable on curriculum, target student, and GTM.
• Southwest Truck Driver Training: CDL training operator based in the western US, providing comparable Class A and Class B programs with real-equipment training. Direct competitor in the broader western regional market.

Others

• American Trucking Associations (ATA): Industry trade association that shapes CDL training standards, advocacy, and workforce development policy. Not a direct competitor, but materially influences the regulatory and funding environment in which United operates.

Regional players

• New England Tractor Trailer Training School: Regional CDL training operator with multi-decade history. Comparable in age and program design to United, but serves the Northeast market rather than competing directly in California.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider (Schneider Driving Academy): Schneider National operates its own CDL training academy that is fully integrated with its carrier hiring pipeline. A major employer-owned competitor with effectively free or reimbursed training, which exerts pricing pressure on independents like United.
• Prime Inc (Prime Trucking School): Major carrier operating an in-house CDL training school tied to its own employment pipeline. Represents the carrier-owned academy model that competes with United for the same career-changer student.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UTDSTruckSchool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5jV2NsRgx_qdAglqLujdbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedTDS
• Instagraminstagram.com/UTDSTruckSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utds

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 United Truck Driving School