Great Lakes Truck Driving School

What Great Lakes Truck Driving School does

Great Lakes Truck Driving School, Inc. is a privately held vocational training corporation operating primarily from a 28-acre, 9,000-square-foot campus at 27740 N. Royalton Rd. in Columbia Station, Ohio, with a second service location in Canton, Ohio. The school delivers commercial driver's license (CDL Class A and B), heavy equipment operation, and mobile crane operations training programs ranging from 100 to 440 clock hours, with published tuition between $2,000 and $27,495. Coursework is conducted on a state-of-the-art facility featuring a designated shifting track, backing maneuver areas, and a simulated construction site for heavy equipment and crane training; graduates receive industry-recognized credentials including NCCER, OSHA 30, SafeLand USA, H2S, and MSHA certifications.

The business operates on a one-time tuition revenue model with payment plan financing administered through Credee (95% instant approval, no credit check) and accepts GI Bill benefits across five VA chapters. Distribution is omnichannel: website application portals, paid and organic social (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, TikTok), SEO, and inbound phone admissions supplemented by on-campus employer recruitment. A placement network of over 1,000 employer relationships spans local, regional, and over-the-road transportation, construction, municipal, drilling, and pipeline industries, with on-site career fairs and pre-hire offers supporting graduate placement. Named institutional clients include NASA Glenn Research Center, Ford Motor Company, Norfolk Southern, Chesapeake Energy, Republic Services, First Energy, American Electric Power, Lincoln Electric, Sysco, Cintas, and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

The school is led by President and veteran James Young, with Operations Manager Sara Smith and approximately eleven named instructors and CDL Examiners on staff, half of whom are military veterans. Regulatory standing includes Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools approval, Ohio Department of Public Safety licensing, NCCER training provider status, and WBENC Women's Business Enterprise certification. The instructional team collectively holds 500+ years of industry experience, supporting an 86% reported veteran graduate placement rate.

Name

Great Lakes Truck Driving School

Legal name

Great Lakes Truck Driving School, Inc.

Website

https://greatlakestds.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Truck Driving School is a privately held Ohio-based vocational training institution operating from Columbia Station and Canton that delivers CDL, heavy equipment, and mobile crane certification programs (100–440 hours) to aspiring commercial drivers, construction operators, and veterans, with tuition-funded revenue and a placement network of 1,000+ employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Truck Driving and Heavy Equipment Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Automobile Driving Schools (611692), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

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), Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC), Powertrain, Drivetrain & Transmission Specialist Training (EDAOAEAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial driver training
• CDL certification programs
• Heavy equipment operator training
• Mobile crane certification
• Vocational truck driving school

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Training Program Fees: One-time tuition fees for each training program. Programs range from $2,000 to $27,495 depending on duration and specialization. Payment plans available through Credee financing partner. GI Bill benefits accepted for eligible veterans.
2. Tuition Payments: Students make tuition payments through the school's payment portal. Credit/debit card payments incur 3% processing fee (effective Feb 1, 2022). Payment plan financing available through Credee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Truck Driving School delivers vocational training programs preparing individuals for careers as commercial truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, and mobile crane operators. Programs range from 100 to 440 clock hours and include Class A CDL, Class B CDL, heavy equipment operation, and mobile crane operations training, delivered on a 28-acre training campus in Columbia Station, Ohio (with a Canton service location). Students earn industry-recognized certifications and gain access to placement assistance through more than 1,000 employer relationships.

Product overview

Great Lakes Truck Driving School is a single-location training institution offering a portfolio of vocational programs focused on commercial driver's license (CDL) training, heavy equipment operation, and mobile crane operations. The core product lineup consists of eight distinct training programs ranging from 100 to 500 clock hours, with the Premier Training Program serving as the most comprehensive offering that combines Class A CDL, heavy equipment, oilfield, and mobile crane certifications. Programs are structured as standalone offerings that can be taken individually or combined, with ancillary services including placement assistance connecting graduates to over 1,000 employers, GI Bill-approved veteran services, and third-party financing through Credee. The school positions itself as a one-stop training facility where students can earn multiple credentials in a single location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Straight Truck / Bus Training Program A 100-hour training program covering Class B CDL training for straight trucks and buses, including classroom instruction on industry regulations, truck driving techniques, safety practices, yard and road training. Designed for individuals seeking Class B CDL credentials.
• Crane Operations Training Program A 120-hour mobile crane operations training program designed for individuals with no prior mobile crane experience. Prepares students for crane certification exam and entry-level employment as a crane operator through classroom instruction and hands-on training.
• CDL (Class A) Skills Training Program A 160-hour program for individuals with no previous tractor-trailer experience, preparing students for the CDL Skills Test and entry-level employment as a tractor-trailer driver.
• Heavy Equipment & Construction Safety Course A 160-hour program for individuals with no previous heavy equipment experience, preparing students for entry-level employment as a heavy equipment operator, with NCCER certification components.
• CDL Class A / Heavy Equipment Training Program A 320-hour program combining Class A CDL training with heavy equipment certifications (Backhoe, Excavator, Front End Loader, Bulldozer, Skid Steer), preparing students for the CDL Skills Test and entry-level employment as both a tractor-trailer driver and heavy equipment operator.
• CDL Skills / Heavy Equipment for the Drilling Industry Program A 400-hour program combining CDL Class A training with heavy equipment operation for the drilling industry, including oilfield safety certifications.
• Premier Training Program A 440-hour comprehensive program combining Class A CDL, heavy equipment, oilfield, and mobile crane operations training — the most extensive program offered, providing entry-level employment credentials across multiple industries over an 11-week full-time schedule.
• Placement Assistance Services Career placement assistance connecting graduates with over 1,000 employers across transportation, construction, municipal, and drilling industries, including pre-hire offers from some employers prior to training completion.
• Veteran Services GI Bill-approved programs for eligible veterans, including Chapter 30, 31, 33, 35, and 1606 benefits, with a dedicated Veterans Services Coordinator and veteran-focused career placement support.
• Payment Plans (Credee Financing) Financing options through Credee partner offering no credit check, quick approvals, and credit building opportunities for tuition payment, with a 95% instant approval rate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 86% veteran graduate placement rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Valley TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerValley Transportation is a steel and aluminum hauling company in Ohio that has been operating since 1973. They actively recruit Great Lakes Truck Driving School graduates and are featured on the school's website as a preferred hiring partner. Company representatives regularly visit campus to recruit students.
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGCRTA is featured on Great Lakes' website as an employer partner. They recruit graduates for bus driver and transit positions. The partnership provides employment opportunities for students seeking Passenger Bus Endorsement training.
• Republic ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRepublic Services is a Fortune 300 company and industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste. They are featured on the school's website as a hiring partner, recruiting drivers from Great Lakes' training programs across their operations in 39 states.
• Encore Express LtdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEncore Express is a FedEx Ground contractor founded in 2000 by the Garwood family. They are featured on the school's website as a hiring partner, recruiting drivers for dedicated runs out of Ohio and Connecticut locations.
• CredeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCredee provides payment plan financing for students. They offer no credit check financing with quick approvals and credit-building features. Students can finance training programs through Credee with 95% instant approval rate.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA-approved institution for GI Bill benefits. School is approved by Ohio's state approving agency to process Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill), Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment), Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill), Chapter 35 (Education Benefits for Survivors and Dependents), and Chapter 1606 (MGIB-SR) benefits.
• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCER is a not-for-profit education foundation providing certifications for the construction and maintenance craft professionals. Great Lakes Truck Driving School offers NCCER Core Curriculum and Level One certifications, with modular credit applied for NCCER Levels Two and Three for heavy equipment operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• All-State Career School: Multi-program vocational school offering CDL alongside other trades (diesel, welding, HVAC). Broader portfolio than Great Lakes but overlapping CDL training segment and tuition model.
• Lincoln Tech: Multi-discipline post-secondary vocational school with CDL among many programs (automotive, HVAC, healthcare). Overlaps on CDL training but competes across a much broader curriculum footprint.

Direct peers

• Truck Driver Institute (TDI): CDL training operator focused on Class A preparation with on-site range training and employer placement support. Comparable on curriculum structure, tuition-based revenue, and student demographic.
• SAGE Truck Driving Schools: Multi-location CDL training provider with similar tuition structure, payment-plan financing, and employer placement emphasis. Closely aligned with Great Lakes on GTM motion and program hours.
• Roadmaster Drivers School: National CDL training school offering Class A and Class B programs with employment placement assistance. Directly comparable on program catalog, target student (entry-level/aspiring drivers), and tuition-driven revenue model.
• 160 Driving Academy: Multi-state CDL-focused truck driving school network with similar tuition-based model and employer placement partnerships. Most directly comparable independent CDL training operator to Great Lakes in scale and program structure.
• National Tractor Trailer School (NTTS): CDL-focused training school offering multi-week Class A programs with similar hands-on range-based curriculum. Comparable on program hours, pricing tier, and target learner profile.
• New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS): Regional CDL and heavy equipment training provider with similar program mix and employer placement model. Comparable on program structure though geographically distinct (Northeast vs. Midwest).

Others

• Knight-Swift Transportation (CDL Academy): Largest US truckload carrier operating employer-sponsored CDL training. Competes for the same entry-level driver candidate through a tuition-free model that places graduates in-house.
• Schneider National (CDL Training Program): Major carrier that runs its own paid CDL training program. Indirect competitor — not tuition-based but absorbs a portion of the aspiring-driver pool that would otherwise attend independent schools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GreatLakesTDS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv5eF0zuuR3uQDjAzTk6d0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/greatlakestruckdrivingschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@greatlakestds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-truck-driving-school

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Great Lakes Truck Driving School