How Much Does A CDL Cost In 2025? A Complete Breakdown

“If you bought it, a truck brought it.”

You must have heard of this phrase quite often. And it’s true. Anything we use has most likely been moved by a truck. The trucking industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, which has also led to a rising need for qualified and skilled drivers.

Truck driving has become a lucrative and in-demand career path for many. However, to become a professional driver, individuals must first obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). And, to qualify for a CDL, most individuals are required to complete a certified training program.

Many certified truck driver schools run these programs.

Enrolling in one of these programs can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the school and location. Now, this cost poses a major hurdle for many students and institutes alike.

That is why many options are available, like grants, sponsorships, or loans, to make the costs affordable. However, not everyone qualifies for them.

This hinders many students from pursuing their dream, and for truck driver schools, it results in lower enrollment rates.

That’s why a more accessible alternative is gaining momentum: payment plans.

Let us discuss all of this in detail in this blog.

Understanding the CDL Training Program

Laying Down The Roadmap

Before understanding payment plans, let's first see what all CDL courses entail and how much students are expected to shell out.

Driving commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers, buses, and certain trucks differs from driving non-commercial vehicles like cars or vans. It requires high skills, knowledge, and adeptness. That is the reason why willing students have to get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

To get that license, they have to complete a CDL training program. It is a course designed to prepare them for the written test, the skills test, and, most importantly, real-world driving.

Certified driving schools run these programs. They cover:

➡ Classroom training: where students learn about road safety, traffic laws, trip planning, and the technical side of commercial vehicles.

➡ Behind-the-wheel training: where they actually practice driving, backing up, turning, inspecting the vehicle, and more under expert supervision.

They can pursue a Class A or Class B CDL, depending on the type of vehicle they want to drive:

➡ Class A CDL: allows individuals to drive big combination vehicles like tractor-trailers (also called 18-wheelers or semis). This license gives them more flexibility and is ideal for long-haul or interstate trucking.

➡ Class B CDL: A Class B CDL allows individuals to drive single vehicles such as school buses, dump trucks, or local delivery vehicles.

Some schools even offer job placement assistance once students complete the training and get licensed.

How Much Does It Cost to Get CDL Training?

It’s All Relative.

As with starting out on any journey, it is normal to ponder the costs. And one question that is sure to arise is, “How much does CDL school cost?” Well, we have quite a detailed answer for you.

The CDL school cost typically ranges from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the location, the school, and the license class. On top of that, there might be added costs like permit fees, drug tests, medical exams, and the final licensing. Here is a detailed table on what students can be expected to pay while pursuing the CDL training program:

Note: All costs are estimates and can vary significantly based on state, specific school/provider, program details, and individual circumstances. It's crucial to get an itemized cost breakdown from any potential training provider.

How to Pay for CDL Training?

The Traditional Route

There are many ways of getting truck driving school financing. It depends on every individual's situation. We have made a list of some ways they can go about it, should they choose the traditional route:

▶ Traditional Loans from Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions):

The first is securing a personal loan to finance the CDL training program. More often than not, this is the route most students choose. They secure a loan and pay the fee while agreeing to repay the principal amount plus interest over a set period.

▶ Workforce Development Programs and Grants for Truck Driving School:

Federal and state grants, such as the Pell Grant (typically for students demonstrating financial need and enrolled in eligible programs) and programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (often for unemployed or underemployed individuals), can provide financial aid.

Where to look:

- Pell Grants: Apply through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.

- WIOA: You can explore WIOA funding opportunities by reaching out to your nearest American Job Center, which is usually listed by state or county online.

- State-Specific Grants: Research your state's Department of Labor or workforce development agency websites.

▶ Scholarship Opportunities:

Various organizations offer scholarships based on different criteria (e.g., merit, demographics, affiliation).

Where to look:

- Trucking Associations: Organizations like the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and state-level trucking associations may list scholarship opportunities.

- Industry-Specific Organizations: Groups like the Women In Trucking Foundation and others focused on specific industry segments often offer scholarships.

- Online Scholarship Search Engines: Several scholarship websites can help students find relevant opportunities.

▶ Company-Sponsored Training Programs and Tuition Reimbursement:

Trucking companies offer CDL training with an agreement for the student to work for them for a set period or reimburse tuition costs after meeting employment milestones.

▶ Military Transition Benefits (VA Education Benefits)

Veterans can use their VA education benefits (e.g., GI Bill) to fund CDL training at approved institutions.

Where to look:

Contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or a local VA benefits advisor.

▶ Personal Savings and Family Contributions:

Lastly, individuals can utilize their own accumulated funds or receive financial assistance from family members to cover tuition and associated costs.

The Challenges of the Traditional Route

Roadblocks, Detours, and More.

While the traditional methods of paying for CDL training have helped many, they also come with their fair share of challenges for both students and training providers.

For Students	For Training Schools
Not everyone qualifies – Grants, scholarships, and government programs often have strict eligibility criteria that many don’t meet.	Enrollment delays – When students struggle to secure truck driving school financing, it slows down or prevents enrollment.
Lengthy approval processes – Applications for aid or loans can take weeks (or months), delaying the start of training.	Administrative burden – Coordinating with multiple financial aid programs, employers, and banks adds extra work.
Credit barriers – Bank loans usually require a good credit score, which isn't always possible for someone just starting out.	Dropout risks – Financial stress is one of the biggest reasons students drop out midway.
Hidden obligations – Company-sponsored programs may sound great, but often come with contracts that limit job flexibility.	Limited access – Strict financing requirements mean fewer students qualify, which impacts class sizes and revenue.
Financial pressure – Even when using personal savings or family support, the cost can be overwhelming without steady income during training.	----------

How Do Payment Plans Open New Pathways?

By Filling Financial Potholes and Smoothing the Road.

Securing financing is often one of the biggest roadblocks for students looking to start CDL training. As we’ve seen earlier, traditional routes can be slow, restrictive, or simply out of reach for many. When financing becomes a hurdle for students, it inevitably impacts training schools, leading to lower enrollment numbers and higher dropout rates.

This is where the need for more viable, flexible options like payment plans comes into the picture.

What Are Payment Plans?

A Convenience.

Put simply, payment plans allow students to split the total cost of CDL training into smaller, more manageable payments over time, without needing upfront capital or perfect credit.

Think of it like this:

Payment plans are the toll booths on the highway to a new career—smaller, spaced-out payments that help students keep moving forward instead of being stopped by a big, one-time fee.

For example, let's say CDL training costs $5,000. A student, Neil, is just starting out and has no savings to cover the costs or even a credit score to rely on. The traditional financing options offer a cumbersome process with long paperwork and approval delays.

Instead, he opts for a truck driving school that offers payment plans. This allows him to break down the cost of his tuition into manageable payments, which he agrees to pay over time. Not only does he get started with his training, but he also takes up a part-time job to cover the expenses affordably. By providing such ease in financing options, the truck driving school also sees an increase in enrollment rates, with many others like Neil taking up the course.

Advantages of Payment Plans for Students and Driving Schools

A Simple Win-Win.

Shift Gears with Credee

The Smarter Way to Pay for CDL Training

Credee's flexible payment plans have proved to be a ray of hope for many students stuck with traditional financing options and driving schools facing declining enrollment rates.

With 97% approval rates and no-credit-check financing options, Credee paves the way for more students to take up their dream career while easing their financial hesitations. For driving schools, it opens up new avenues of cash flow as they can now enroll students they had to turn away earlier.

The Road Ahead

Is Full Of Opportunities

Truck driving continues to be a rewarding and in-demand career path. With a projected need of 162,000 drivers by 2030 in the U.S. alone, the industry is calling for a new wave of trained professionals. This rising demand creates opportunities for both aspiring drivers and CDL training schools.

However, to truly seize these opportunities, having a clear and realistic financial pathway is essential. If students can access traditional financing routes, they should certainly take advantage of them. However, for many, those routes may not be accessible. This is where payment plans, like those offered by Credee, can offer an easier route.

FAQs

1. How Much Does Truck Driving School Cost?

Truck driving school can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the location, school, and type of CDL (Class A or B) you pursue.

2. Is There Free CDL Training for Unemployed Individuals?

Yes, programs like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) offer free CDL training for eligible unemployed individuals through government-funded grants.

3. How Can I Get Grants for Truck Driving School?

You can apply for state and federal grants like WIOA, local workforce development programs, or school-specific scholarships—eligibility criteria may vary.