Truck driving is one profession our country can’t live without, and the need for new, well-trained drivers is great. The American Trucking Association says there is a shortage of over 80,000 drivers.
Truck driving is a very satisfying job that comes with many perks. Aside from a healthy salary and other job-related benefits, you enjoy the freedom to travel, provide a vital service for people, and take pride in a job well done. There’s job security, too, due to the need.
Truck Driver Training Requirements
If you think becoming a truck driver is for you, there are a few requirements you will have to meet.
First, you must be 21 or older to travel interstate. You also need a clean driving record. Most companies do a background check and won’t hire someone with a spotty record.
Next, you will need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Before getting a CDL, you must take the entry-level driver training (ELDT) course. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established the ELDT rule in February 2022, which required this training — and there’s no better place to get ELDT training than The CDL School!
The CDL School ELDT Theory Course
The CDL School offers an FMCSA approved entry-level driver training program that meets all federal requirements and ELDT regulations.
Our ELDT Theory course prepares you to successfully pass your state commercial learner’s permit (CLP) exam, a prerequisite to beginning behind-the-wheel training for your Class A CDL or Class B CDL.
The ELDT curriculum covers five areas:
- Basic operation – includes shifting transmissions, backing and docking, and coupling and uncoupling.
- Safe operating procedures – speed and space management, operating under extreme conditions.
- Advanced operating procedures – skid control, jackknifing, and other emergencies.
- Vehicle systems and reporting malfunctions – roadside inspections and maintenance.
- Non-driving activities – cargo handling, trip planning, and hours of service requirements.
You will learn everything you need to pass the CLP knowledge test the first time, just like 90% of our students. Also, you can earn your permit in as few as ten days with our accelerated online training program. And because our course is FMCSA certified, your results are automatically submitted to the FMCSA.
The best part? We are offering the ELDT Theory course for a limited time price of $29.99.
CDL Costs
Driver-trainees can begin CDL training once they receive their permit. However, CDL cost varies depending on a range of factors, including application fees, CDL school tuition, endorsements, road skills tests, and others.
The school you go to plays a big part in the price. If there are no schools in your area, you will have travel expenses and may have to cover room and board.
The time it takes to get your CDL also weighs in. Our program typically takes four weeks, including the CDL skills test. However, depending on the school, classroom and behind-the-wheel training could take up to seven weeks or even longer in some cases.
ELDT Certificate Truck Driving Jobs
Did you know you can get a truck driving job before your CDL? That’s right. And we will help you find a job that fits your schedule and preference, whether that’s local, regional, over-the-road, school bus, a tanker carrying hazardous materials — you name it, you can drive it.
America needs professional truck drivers now more than ever. What’s keeping you from starting a promising career in the trucking industry? Take the first step toward getting your CDL by completing the required ELDT Theory course from The CDL School for the limited-time-only price of $29.99.