Commercial Truck Driving (CDL)
Certificate
Commercial Truck Driving $0 Tuition
Workforce Training Program
Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) Training $0 Tuition
What can I do in commercial truck driving?
This certificate provides the training necessary to prepare for a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and enter the field of professional truck driving. Commercial truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. They are an integral link in the supply chain.
What characteristics and skills do I need to work in this field?
It is important that commercial truck drivers have strong hand-eye coordination. They should be in good physical condition with good hearing and vision.
Where can I work?
CDL drivers are in high demand. A typical student will likely have multiple job offers before completing the program. Class-A drivers average over $40,000 in the first year. The majority of employers offer health, dental and vision insurance along with retirement plans. Pay increases rapidly with experience. A driver with a good safety record and five years of experience should expect to earn $60,000 or more per year.
A Class-A CDL is a desirable and often-required credential for employment in other fields. Trident Tech students enrolled in programs to become diesel mechanics, electrical line workers and in other transportation-related areas will be able to earn credit hours applying towards an associate degree.
What does Trident Technical College offer?
Trident Tech’s Commercial Truck Driving certificate program gives students the training and skills to begin a career as a Class-A CDL driver. The 252-hour certificate program exceeds the state requirements by 70% and will make Trident Tech graduates sought-after entry-level drivers in the transportation industry.
Temporarily housed at Trident Technical College’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston while renovations are ongoing at Berkeley Campus, this program consists of:
- Classroom instruction,
- Hands-on training with two state-of-the-art full-motion simulators,
- Behind the wheel training in four 2022 Kenworth T680 trucks, and
- Option to test in a manual or automatic transmission truck.
Program graduates are prepared to test for a Class-A CDL license. South Carolina CDL skills testing is administered by a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) examiner or by TTC’s state certified CDL examiner.
Trident Technical College is a 2024 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE) designee by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
Affordable Tuition
A barrier for new drivers to enter the industry is the cost of truck school tuition. By enrolling in this accredited program, Trident Tech students have access to state and federal financial aid, as well as other funding sources. With both credit and noncredit options available, there are opportunities for students enrolling with or without a high school diploma, GED or previous college experience.
Experienced Faculty
Wes Bradford, program coordinator, has over 17 years of experience in the transportation industry as a Class-A driver, driver trainer and truck school program director. He most recently served as a CDL compliance agent for the SCDMV.
Program Qualifications
To enroll, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Have a valid S.C. driver’s license,
- Have a U.S. Department of Transportation physical, and
- Not be listed as CDL disqualified by the SCDMV.