Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training Courses

There is a vital need for truck drivers in the United States, as 78 percent of all products are transported via truck.  A 2015 study by the American Trucking Association predicts the trucking industry will need 890,000 new drivers in the next decade.

Most truckers, during their first year on the road, earn an average of $35,000 a year.  After a few years of experience, they can earn average annual salaries between $45,000-$50,000.  Experienced drivers who own their own trucks earn average salaries of $100,000 and beyond.

FVCC offers two main options in commercial driver’s license training.

Tuition and total costs are estimates based on students who qualify for in-district rates.

CDL Professional Truck Driver Class:

Course	Title	Length	Tuition (Flathead and Lincoln County Residents)	Equipment Fees	Esitmated Total Cost
HEO 103	Professional Truck Driver*	8 weeks approximately	$1,445.60	$2,000.00	$3,445.60

*Includes the basic CDL plus the option to test for the following endorsements:

• HazMat training for hauling hazardous materials
• Double trailers
• Triple trailers
• Tanker
• School Bus
• Passenger Endorsement

Additional CDL Classes:

Additional classes are offered based on available space.

Class	Title	Approximate Length	Tuition (Flathead and Lincoln County Residents)	Equipment Fees	Estimated Total Cost
HEO 100	Commercial Truck Driver (Basic CDL, no endorsements) Only for students also registered for HEO 105.	5 weeks	$699.80	$700.00	$1,399.80
HEO 101	Commercial Driver’s License-Bus (Class B CDL)	2 weeks	$524.85	$960.00	$1,484.85
HEO 102	Commercial Truck Driver B to A Transition	2 weeks	$349.90	$985.00	$1,334.90
HEO 181	Commercial Truck Driver A to Bus Transition	1 week	$174.95	$410.00	$584.95

 

Steps to Obtain a CDL

Prerequisites to apply:

• At least 18 years old
• Current Montana driver’s license
• Birth certificate or Passport
• Proof of state residence
• No DUIs in the past five years

At least one month before the class:

• Apply to FVCC as a non-degree seeking student at www.fvcc.edu/apply/.
• Make an appointment to meet with an advisor.