Prospective Virginia truck drivers, listen up: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts steady growth for the industry between 2016 and 2026. As of May 2016 (latest available data), Virginia heavy truck drivers earn an average wage of $19.87 per hour. This equates to earning a salary of $41,330 per year. To become one of Virginia's 59,000+ truck drivers, enrolling in a truck driving school and earning a CDL is the preferred pathway.
CDL Training Near Me in Virginia
Truck driving schools in Virginia are located throughout the state with hotspots in Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Manassas, Portsmouth, and Wytheville. A few of the options include CDS Tractor Trailer Training and Road Pro Commercial Truck Training. Virginia truck driving schools may provide you with the training needed to obtain your CDL. Obtaining a CDL license in Virginia, applicants must be at least 18 years old and satisfy all requirements for a regular Virginia driver's license. To drive a commercial vehicle across state lines, transport hazardous materials, or haul a freight within the state, you must be at least 21 years old. CDL applicants must then pass a written knowledge exam and a skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control test, and an on-road driving test. Depending on the class of license and endorsements you need, other knowledge and skills tests may be required--for example, to drive a combination vehicle, a tanker truck or a truck with air brakes. Additional qualifications are also needed to transport passengers or to haul hazardous materials. Once driving school has been completed and a CDL has been earned, you'll be ready for a job at one of Virginia's many trucking companies, such as Fleetmaster Express or Wilson Trucking Corporation.
To locate a truck driving school in Virginia, browse the list of featured trucking schools below.