Truck Driving Schools in Georgia with Student Reviews

We Show You Where the Best Truck Driving Schools in Georgia are Located

We show you how to choose the best truck driving schools in Georgia with our comprehensive list of CDL training schools in Georgia. On this page you will also find a list of trucking schools in Georgia that have been rated and reviewed by the students themselves using a 5 star rating system. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference by pressing Ctrl-D on your keyboard. 

Savannah Technical College
Effingham Campus 
2890 Hwy 21 South
Rincon, GA 31326

Savannah Technical College
Liberty Campus
100 Technology Drive
Hinesville, GA 31313

Southeastern Technical College
Swainsboro Campus 
346 Kite Road 
Swainsboro, GA 30401

Southeastern Technical College
Vidalia Campus 
1400 Harris Industrial Blvd
Vidalia, GA 30474

Southern Region Technical College
52 Tech Drive
Tifton, GA 31794

Southern Crescent Technical College
Butts County Center
1578 Hwy 16 West
Jackson, GA 30233

Southern Crescent Technical College
Jasper County Center
112 Industrial Park Drive
Monticello, GA 31064

Southern Crescent Technical College
Flint River Campus
1533 Hwy 19 South
Thomaston, GA 30286

South Georgia Technical College
900 South GA Tech Pkwy
Americus, GA 31709

South Georgia Technical College
Crisp County Center
402 N. Midway Road
Cordele, GA 31015

Swift Trucking School
175 Murphy Campus Blvd
Waco, GA 30182

Truck Driver Institute
100 Industrial Park Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029

West Georgia Technical College
Coweta Campus
200 Campus Drive
Newnan, GA 30263

West Georgia Technical College
LaGrange Campus
1 College Circle
LaGrange, GA 30240

West Georgia Technical College
Carroll Campus
997 Newnan Road
Carrollton, GA 30116

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Coffee County Campus
706 W. Baker Hwy 
Douglas, GA 31533

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Valdosta Campus
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, GA 31602

Truck Driving Schools in Georgia: Your Complete Guide to CDL Careers in the Peach State

The Port of Savannah handles more than 14,000 truck moves every single day — more daily truck traffic than any other single container terminal in North America — and yet Georgia’s freight system is still growing so fast that the state cannot produce enough qualified CDL drivers to keep pace. Truck driving schools in Georgia are responding to that demand by expanding capacity, adding weekend schedules, and partnering directly with carriers who recruit on campus multiple times each week. In 2022, Georgia’s freight system moved 629 million tons of goods valued at $986 billion, ranking it the 10th most valuable freight state in the nation — and that figure is projected to nearly double in value by 2050. For anyone considering a professional driving career, there has never been a more strategically compelling time to enroll in one of the truck driving schools in GA and get to work.

Why Georgia Is a Strong State for Professional Truck Drivers

Georgia sits at the intersection of nearly every major Southeast freight corridor, and its logistics economy has consistently outpaced national growth for more than a decade. The state is home to nearly 900 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space, with metro Atlanta alone accounting for 600 million square feet — ranking it the sixth-largest logistics market in the United States. According to a 2023 TRIP report, freight moved by trucks annually in Georgia is expected to increase 67 percent by weight and 96 percent in value by 2050, creating sustained, long-term demand for qualified CDL holders that no automation trend is likely to fully replace.

The Port of Savannah and Georgia’s Coastal Freight Engine

The Port of Savannah is the third-busiest container gateway in the United States, home to the largest single-terminal container facility of its kind in North America, and it handles more than 14,000 truck moves every single day. In fiscal year 2024, Georgia’s ports generated $174 billion in total sales — equal to 11 percent of the state’s total sales — and supported nearly 651,000 full- and part-time jobs, accounting for 12 percent of total state employment. The port serves 37 weekly shipping services, the most of any port along the U.S. South Atlantic, and processed 5.7 million TEUs in 2025 with plans to reach 7.5 million TEU capacity by 2030. The Georgia Ports Authority has committed $4.5 billion in infrastructure investments over the next decade, with a second inland port in Gainesville — the Blue Ridge Connector — currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2026.

Every container that moves through Savannah requires trucking on both ends of its journey, which is why port drayage — moving containers between the terminal and nearby distribution centers — is one of the highest-volume CDL job categories in coastal Georgia. Container volumes at the Port of Savannah increased 9 percent year-over-year in August 2024 and rose 11.4 percent through the first half of fiscal year 2025, reflecting a sustained growth trajectory that is directly creating new driver job openings. The port’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal, served by both Norfolk Southern and CSX, generates additional intermodal truck movements as containers are transferred between rail and highway at facilities throughout the corridor. Trucker training in Georgia that focuses on drayage, drop-and-hook, and intermodal operations positions new CDL holders to work directly within this massive freight ecosystem.

Atlanta: The Southeast’s Unrivaled Distribution Hub

Metro Atlanta contains 600 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space, ranking it the sixth-largest logistics market in the entire country, and major interstates — I-20, I-75, I-85, and I-285 — converge within the city to form one of the busiest freight interchange zones in the Southeast. According to a 2021 logistics industry report commissioned by Georgia’s Center of Innovation, the state’s logistics sector employs more than 250,000 people and generates an $83.4 billion annual economic impact across more than 32,000 logistics establishments statewide. Georgia’s transportation and logistics employment growth has consistently outpaced national averages in recent years, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s 2024 freight analysis. Both Amazon and Walmart maintain massive regional fulfillment and distribution networks in the Atlanta metropolitan area, with dedicated private fleets and carrier partnerships that actively recruit Georgia-trained CDL drivers.

The Hyundai Metaplant and Georgia’s New Automotive Freight Demand

In March 2025, Hyundai Motor Group held the grand opening of its Metaplant America facility in Bryan County, Georgia — described as the largest economic development project in the state’s history at a total investment of $7.59 billion. Located just 25 miles from the Port of Savannah and directly connected to I-16 and I-95, the Metaplant has the capacity to produce 300,000 vehicles annually at current build-out and will eventually reach 500,000 units per year for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis models. The plant’s strategic location next to the Port of Savannah creates an automotive supply chain corridor that generates constant inbound freight from parts suppliers across the Southeast and outbound finished-vehicle shipments departing through Savannah. The first Hyundai IONIQ 5 rolled off the Metaplant assembly line on October 3, 2024, making it the first EV and hybrid production plant of its kind in U.S. history.

The Metaplant is projected to create at least 8,500 on-site jobs and has already spurred nearly 6,900 additional jobs at off-site suppliers throughout Georgia, with total direct and indirect employment from the project expected to reach nearly 40,000 positions. Each of those supplier operations requires regular freight movements — from raw materials and components inbound to the megasite, to finished vehicles outbound to dealer networks across North America. The auto-transport and flatbed trucking demand generated by the Metaplant is entirely new freight volume that did not exist in Georgia before 2024, adding a compelling career niche that is unique to this market. Carriers that specialize in automotive logistics — including auto-haul, flatbed, and dedicated shuttle operations — are actively recruiting in Georgia specifically to support the supply chains that feed and distribute from the Hyundai facility.

Cost of Living in Georgia for CDL Drivers

Georgia’s overall cost of living is approximately 7.5 percent below the national average, making a CDL salary go meaningfully further here than in many other high-freight states. According to Apartments.com July 2025 data, the statewide average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Georgia is $1,432 per month, compared to the national average of approximately $1,639 — a savings of roughly $200 each month. Rents vary considerably by city: a one-bedroom in Atlanta averages $1,593 to $1,831; in Savannah, approximately $1,559; in Columbus, around $1,051; and in Macon, as low as $992 per month. The average monthly mortgage payment for Georgia homeowners in 2025 is approximately $2,044 for a 30-year fixed loan, based on Rocket Mortgage data, which is 14 percent below the national mortgage average of $2,329.

For a single person in Georgia, a realistic monthly budget — including a one-bedroom apartment at approximately $1,432, food costs of around $370, transportation of roughly $400, utilities of approximately $150, and other personal expenses — typically falls between $2,900 and $3,400 per month. A couple sharing a two-bedroom apartment can expect combined monthly costs of approximately $4,400 to $5,200, depending on location. A family of four in Georgia — with a three-bedroom home at approximately $1,886 to $2,200 in rent or a $2,044 average mortgage, plus food costs near $1,200 to $1,500, childcare between $1,300 and $2,200, utilities around $250, and transportation near $800 to $1,000 — typically budgets between $7,000 and $9,000 per month. As of August 2025, the average price of regular gasoline in Georgia was $2.91 per gallon, which is below the national average and further reduces the cost burden for drivers commuting to training or work.

An Overview of CDL Training Schools in Georgia

Georgia has a robust network of FMCSA-approved CDL training providers, spanning private career schools, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) campuses, and carrier-sponsored programs spread across the state from the Atlanta metro to the coast. The state’s size, population, and freight economy support more than 60 active training locations listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, reflecting consistent demand for new drivers in the Atlanta corridor, the Savannah port region, Augusta, Columbus, and throughout rural Georgia.

GA CDL training schools and all other FMCSA-registered programs must cover the required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) curriculum before certifying a student’s completion, and all Georgia CDL training schools must also hold a separate Certificate of Approval issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) Regulatory Compliance Division. Georgia’s DDS actively audits certified schools on a regular basis to verify curriculum compliance, range adequacy, instructor qualifications, and administrative standards.

Trucking Schools in Georgia — What’s Available Statewide

Trucking schools in Georgia fall into three broad categories: private career schools, community and technical college programs, and carrier-sponsored training pipelines. All trucking schools in GA that serve Class A CDL students must hold active FMCSA TPR registration and Georgia DDS certification before enrolling entry-level students. Private career schools make up the largest share of the Georgia CDL training landscape and typically offer the shortest time-to-license timelines — often four to seven weeks — with flexible weekday or weekend scheduling options and direct employer connections. TCSG schools, including Savannah Technical College and Georgia Piedmont Technical College, offer tuition-assisted programs within their certificate curricula, often making them among the most affordable options in the state. Carrier-sponsored programs generally operate through national carriers who send recruits to company training terminals out of state, though some Georgia-based fleets offer regional training arrangements.

Daly’s Truck Driving School in Buford has graduated over 16,000 students since opening in 1992 and offers one of the shortest Class A CDL programs in Georgia at 17 days, with connections to more than 50 trucking companies. Roadmaster Drivers School operates an Atlanta campus with more than 34 years in the industry, using late-model tractor-trailers exclusively for student training. Atlanta Truck Driving School offers a distinctive one-on-one training model — with no group driving — completing the Class A program in approximately three weeks with tuition of $3,500 as of November 2025. Savannah Technical College’s Commercial Truck Driving program costs $2,207 as of November 2025 and is eligible for the HOPE Career Grant, making it one of the most affordable pathways to a Georgia Class A CDL for qualifying residents.

CDL Training Schools in Georgia — Katlaw Truck Driving School

CDL training schools in Georgia vary widely in format, length, and cost, but one of the most well-established private programs in the state is Katlaw Truck Driving School in Austell, which has been operating since 1997 and is licensed by the Georgia DDS, approved for WIOA grants, and authorized for VA education benefits. Katlaw’s Class A CDL weekday program is 160 hours and costs $3,995 (with a paid-in-full discount of $3,895), while the weekend option — eight weekends of Saturday-Sunday instruction over approximately two months — is $4,295 ($4,195 paid in full). New weekday classes begin every Monday, allowing students to start training without waiting for a fixed term to begin. Katlaw offers small class sizes, flexible financing, and a company-sponsored option in which an employer covers tuition in exchange for a driving commitment after graduation.

A distinctive feature of Katlaw is its job placement infrastructure: representatives from major trucking companies visit the facility multiple times each week, and students meet with a placement coordinator within the first few days of training to begin the application process. Approximately half of Katlaw students receive pre-hire offers before completing the program, and 90 to 95 percent begin working directly after training. Katlaw is also a member of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA), which recognizes programs that have voluntarily submitted to peer review of their curriculum, facilities, and instructor qualifications. Georgia CDL training schools that hold CVTA membership signal a higher standard of professional accountability to prospective students and employers alike.

Georgia Driving Academy: Multi-Campus ELDT-Approved Training

Georgia Driving Academy (GDA) operates three DDS-licensed campuses across the state — in Conyers, Columbus, and Augusta — giving students in eastern, central, and western Georgia access to ELDT-compliant Class A training without having to travel to the Atlanta area. GDA has more than 30 years of experience in Georgia driver education and is approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services, FMCSA, and WorkSource Georgia (WIOA). A notable feature of GDA is its exclusive use of automatic transmission vehicles for training, reflecting the industry’s accelerating shift toward automated manual transmissions in professional fleets. Classes start every Monday at most campuses, and the 160-hour Class A program can be completed in a few weeks, after which GDA hosts monthly recruiter events with carriers including Schneider, Werner Enterprises, Stevens Transport, and Covenant Transport.

What You Will Learn at Truck Driving Schools in Georgia

CDL training in Georgia covers two mandatory training phases for all Class A applicants: theory instruction in the classroom and behind-the-wheel (BTW) training that spans a controlled range environment and public road operation. All programs listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry must cover the full ELDT curriculum as defined in 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A, before the school may certify a student’s completion. Georgia CDL training schools must also align their curriculum with the Georgia DDS’s approved Curriculum Matrix, which maps program content to the DDS’s certification standards for commercial driver instruction. Prospective students should verify that any school they consider holds active status on both the FMCSA Training Provider Registry and the Georgia DDS certified school list before enrolling.

Classroom and Theory Instruction

Georgia truck driving schools deliver classroom instruction that covers all five federal ELDT theory curriculum areas, preparing students for both the Georgia DDS CDL Knowledge Exam and the real-world demands of professional trucking. Classroom sessions at Georgia programs typically use the official Georgia Commercial Driver’s Manual as a reference alongside the federal FMCSA regulations, and students learn Georgia-specific rules such as the state’s weight limit provisions, GDOT weigh station requirements, and Georgia’s road network characteristics — including the unique freight corridors along I-75, I-85, I-20, and I-16 that serve the Port of Savannah and the Atlanta distribution core. Programs like Katlaw Truck Driving School cover the CSA 2010 program, hours-of-service (HOS) log completion (both paper and electronic), and current federal regulations as part of their classroom curriculum. Georgia Driving Academy and Daly’s Truck Driving School similarly structure their theory instruction to ensure students pass the Georgia DDS permit knowledge exams before advancing to behind-the-wheel training.

The federal ELDT Theory Instruction Standard Curriculum for Class A applicants is organized into five core sections, each covering a distinct area of professional driving knowledge that every student must complete before receiving a training certification from an FMCSA-registered provider. Georgia schools cover these five areas comprehensively, and instructors must document that each student has received instruction across all required units within each section. The Georgia DDS Regulatory Compliance Division reviews and approves each school’s curriculum matrix prior to granting a Certificate of Approval, ensuring the program content meets both state and federal standards. All five curriculum areas below are derived directly from Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 380 as published on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

1. Section A1.1 — Basic Operation: Covers the fundamental interaction between the driver and the commercial motor vehicle. Students learn Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), vehicle instruments and controls, pre-trip and post-trip inspection procedures, basic control maneuvers including sharp turns and restricted-area maneuvering, shifting and backing techniques, and the coupling and uncoupling of combination vehicles. This section forms the foundation for everything that follows in CDL training.
2. Section A1.2 — Safe Operating Procedures: Teaches the practices required for safe CMV operation on public highways under a variety of road, weather, and traffic conditions. Key topics include visual search, communication and signaling, distracted driving regulations (including cell phone and in-cab technology rules under 49 CFR §§ 392.80 and 392.82), speed and space management, night operation, and the safe handling of combination vehicles in extreme weather conditions such as rain, ice, fog, and steep grades.
3. Section A1.3 — Advanced Operating Practices: Introduces higher-level driving skills that build on the fundamentals covered in the first two sections. Students learn hazard perception and anticipation, skid control and recovery, jackknife avoidance and correction, emergency braking and evasive steering, proper response to tire blowouts and hydroplaning, and the specific safety procedures required at railroad-highway grade crossings — a topic that Georgia schools emphasize given the extensive freight rail network crossing state roads.
4. Section A1.4 — Vehicle Systems and Reporting Malfunctions: Provides driver-trainees with sufficient knowledge of the commercial vehicle’s systems and subsystems to support safe and efficient operation. Students learn to identify major vehicle systems including engine, brakes, drivetrain, coupling systems, and suspension; diagnose potential malfunctions; understand what violations are classified as out-of-service conditions during roadside inspections; and perform basic preventive maintenance and emergency repairs. Georgia CDL schools incorporate practical demonstration into this section so students can recognize real-world equipment conditions.
5. Section A1.5 — Non-Driving Activities: Covers the full scope of professional driver responsibilities that occur off the road. This includes cargo handling and documentation, environmental compliance, hours-of-service (HOS) regulations and log completion, fatigue and wellness awareness, post-crash procedures, effective communication with law enforcement, whistleblower and coercion protections, trip planning, drug and alcohol regulations under Part 382, and DOT medical certification requirements. Georgia programs also address the state’s self-certification process at DDS and the electronic medical certificate submission requirement that took effect June 18, 2025.

Georgia follows the federal FMCSA ELDT curriculum standards for entry-level CDL applicants. Training providers listed on the FMCSA ELDT page and the FMCSA Training Provider Registry must cover all required federal theory and behind-the-wheel curriculum areas before certifying a student’s ELDT completion. The Georgia DDS does not add mandatory theory curriculum topics beyond the five federal sections listed above, but the state’s own school certification requirements — including instructor licensing, curriculum matrix review, and regular DDS audits — create an accountability layer that goes beyond what the federal TPR registration process alone requires. This means students at Georgia-certified CDL schools receive training under both federal FMCSA oversight and active state regulatory review. Truck driver training in Georgia at any DDS-certified school covers all content the Georgia DDS has approved as part of its official curriculum matrix, ensuring consistent preparation for the DDS CDL Knowledge Exam across all program locations.

The Knowledge Exam administered by the Georgia Department of Driver Services covers sections on General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles as mandatory portions for a Class A CLP applicant, with additional knowledge tests available for endorsements (Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, Passenger). Students at Georgia CDL schools spend classroom time reviewing each of these exam subjects systematically, using the Georgia Commercial Driver’s Manual as the primary study resource. Georgia programs typically include practice testing on these knowledge areas so students arrive at the DDS Customer Service Center well-prepared for the permit exam before advancing to range and road training. At schools like Katlaw, the classroom phase also includes DOT drug screen and physical exam scheduling, which is included in tuition and typically completed during the first week of the program.

Complete Your FMCSA ELDT Theory Training Online From Home

If you prefer to complete the theory portion of your CDL training schools in Georgia requirements from home before starting behind-the-wheel training, an FMCSA-approved online ELDT theory course is available. This is a legitimate, federally recognized option for satisfying the classroom requirement — and it can be started immediately, regardless of where you live in Georgia. Georgia CDL students can complete the entire FMCSA ELDT Class A theory curriculum online — from any computer at home, at a completely self-directed pace — before beginning in-person behind-the-wheel training.

For students who want the flexibility of completing theory on evenings or weekends — particularly those in rural Georgia communities far from a CDL school — online ELDT theory completion followed by focused in-person BTW training is a fully compliant and practical pathway. CDL training in GA records completion electronically through FMCSA, and the Georgia state driver licensing agency verifies ELDT status before authorizing CDL skills test scheduling. Click here to access the complete FMCSA Class A ELDT Theory Course and begin studying online today.

While preparing for your Georgia CDL Knowledge Test, our Free CDL Practice Tests cover every section of the Georgia CDL written exam. Want to greatly increase your chances of successfully passing the CDL Knowledge Test on your first attempt? The Complete Georgia CDL Practice Test Study Package and the Complete Georgia CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package provide targeted preparation that maximizes your first-attempt pass rate at the Georgia CDL Knowledge Test.

Required Classroom Hours in Georgia

The FMCSA does not set a minimum number of classroom instruction hours for Class A CDL training — the standard is proficiency-based, meaning the instructor must cover all required curriculum topics thoroughly regardless of the number of hours it takes. The federal BTW and theory training regulations confirm that there is no prescribed minimum hour count. In practice, most Georgia CDL schools structure their theory phase to take approximately 40 to 60 hours, which students typically complete in the first one to two weeks of a full-time program. Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s program, for example, consists of nine credit hours total — balancing classroom and hands-on instruction — while private schools like Daly’s and Katlaw complete theory preparation within the first portion of their 17-day and four-week programs respectively.

Behind-the-Wheel Training at Georgia CDL Schools

Georgia CDL schools divide their behind-the-wheel training into two distinct phases — range (controlled environment) and public road — in accordance with the FMCSA ELDT requirements defined in 49 CFR Part 380 Appendix A. Range training takes place on a dedicated driving course, and the Georgia DDS requires that every certified CDL training school maintain a minimum range area of 62,500 square feet to ensure students have enough space to practice all required maneuvers safely. Public road training follows after the student demonstrates adequate proficiency on the range, and it must be conducted in a commercial motor vehicle that requires a Class A CDL. The transition from range to road is not based on a fixed number of days — it depends on the student reaching proficiency benchmarks that the instructor assesses and documents throughout training.

• Range phase coverage: Pre-trip inspection walkthrough, post-trip inspection, straight-line backing, alley dock backing (45-degree and 90-degree approaches), off-set backing (right and left), parallel parking (blind side and sight side), coupling and uncoupling procedures, Get-Out-and-Look (GOAL) technique application
• Public road phase coverage: Left and right turns at intersections, lane changes on multilane roads, curves at highway speed, interstate entry and exit, shifting and fuel-efficient gear selection, signaling and communication with other drivers, visual search and hazard scanning, speed and space management, safe driver behavior, HOS log demonstration, and discussion of night driving, extreme conditions, and railroad-grade crossing procedures
• Georgia DDS skills test format: Three parts assessed at the time of testing — pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control (range maneuvers), and on-road driving evaluation; the $50 skills test fee applies per testing attempt
• Instruction model: Most Georgia private schools use a one instructor-per-truck model during active driving sessions, with some schools (like Atlanta Truck Driving School) offering fully one-on-one training with no shared driving time among students

During range training at Georgia CDL schools, students spend the majority of their time mastering the backing maneuvers that are directly tested by the DDS skills examiner. Straight-line backing requires the student to guide a 53-foot combination vehicle along a narrow, straight path using mirrors alone, and Georgia instructors spend considerable time helping students develop the visual reference points and mirror calibration techniques needed for accuracy. Alley dock backing — the most commonly failed maneuver on CDL skills tests nationally — is practiced extensively, with students learning both the 45-degree setup and the 90-degree approach. Off-set backing prepares students for real-world situations like loading dock approaches where the truck and trailer must be repositioned laterally, while parallel parking on both the blind and sight sides simulates the test scenarios administered at Georgia DDS testing locations. Coupling and uncoupling practice teaches the standard coupling and uncoupling practice sequence — including landing gear lowering, air hose connection, fifth-wheel kingpin inspection, and more — that examiners observe during the pre-trip portion of the skills test.

Coupling Tractor-Semitrailers: 16-Step Georgia DDS Practice Sequence

1. Inspect the fifth wheel: Students check the fifth wheel for damage, secure mounting, proper lubrication, open jaws, correct tilt, a locked slider if equipped, and a kingpin that is not bent or broken.
2. Inspect the area and secure the trailer wheels: Students make sure the area is clear, the trailer wheels are chocked or the spring brakes are set, and any cargo is secure before the tractor backs under the trailer.
3. Position the tractor: Students line the tractor up directly in front of the trailer using the outside mirrors so the trailer is not pushed sideways or placed at risk of landing gear damage.
4. Back slowly toward the trailer: Students back carefully until the fifth wheel just touches the trailer, making sure not to hit the trailer with excessive force.
5. Secure the tractor: Students set the parking brake and place the transmission in neutral before leaving the cab to continue the coupling process safely.
6. Check the trailer height: Students verify that the trailer is low enough to rise slightly when the tractor backs under it and confirm that the kingpin is aligned with the fifth wheel.
7. Connect the air lines to the trailer: Students inspect the glad hand seals, connect the emergency and service air lines to the correct trailer glad hands, and make sure the lines will not be crushed or caught.
8. Supply air to the trailer: Students supply air to the trailer brake system, wait for normal air pressure, check for crossed lines, listen for brake movement, and watch for major air loss.
9. Lock the trailer brakes: Students pull out the trailer air supply or move the tractor protection valve back to emergency so the trailer brakes are locked before backing under the trailer.
10. Back under the trailer: Students use the lowest reverse gear and back slowly until the kingpin locks securely into the fifth wheel.
11. Check the connection for security: Students raise the landing gear slightly and perform a gentle tug test against the locked trailer brakes to confirm the trailer is locked to the tractor.
12. Secure the vehicle: Students place the transmission in neutral, set the parking brakes, shut off the engine, and take the key before inspecting the coupling area.
13. Inspect the coupling: Students check that there is no gap between the upper and lower fifth wheel, confirm the jaws are locked around the kingpin shank, and verify the locking lever and safety latch are secure.
14. Connect the electrical cord and check the lines: Students plug in the electrical cord, secure the safety catch, inspect the air and electrical lines for damage, and make sure the lines will not contact moving parts.
15. Raise the landing gear: Students raise the landing gear fully, secure the crank handle, and check clearance between the tractor frame, landing gear, tractor tires, and trailer nose.
16. Remove the trailer wheel chocks: Students remove the wheel chocks and store them safely before the coupled tractor-trailer is moved.

Uncoupling Tractor-Semitrailers: 10-Step Georgia DDS Practice Sequence

1. Position the rig: Students park on a surface that can support the trailer’s weight and keep the tractor lined up straight with the trailer to avoid damaging the landing gear.
2. Ease pressure on the locking jaws: Students shut off the trailer air supply, back gently against the kingpin, and set the parking brakes so the fifth wheel release can be operated more easily.
3. Chock the trailer wheels: Students chock the trailer wheels when needed, especially if the trailer does not have spring brakes or if there is any doubt about brake security.
4. Lower the landing gear: Students lower the landing gear until it firmly contacts the ground, adding a few extra low-gear turns for loaded trailers without lifting the trailer off the fifth wheel.
5. Disconnect the air lines and electrical cable: Students disconnect the air lines and electrical cable, secure the glad hands and cable properly, and make sure the lines will not be damaged after the tractor pulls away.
6. Unlock the fifth wheel: Students raise the release handle lock, pull the release handle open, and keep their legs and feet clear of the rear tractor wheels in case the vehicle shifts.
7. Pull the tractor partially clear of the trailer: Students pull forward until the fifth wheel clears the trailer but keep the tractor frame under the trailer as a safety backup in case the landing gear fails.
8. Secure the tractor: Students set the parking brake and place the transmission in neutral before getting out to check the trailer supports.
9. Inspect the trailer supports: Students confirm the ground is supporting the trailer properly and check that the landing gear is not damaged or sinking.
10. Pull the tractor clear of the trailer: Students release the parking brakes, check the area, and drive forward until the tractor is fully clear of the trailer.

Public road training at Georgia truck driving schools places students in real traffic environments, typically starting on lower-volume secondary roads before progressing to multi-lane arterials and interstate driving. Instructors ride in the cab throughout every public road session, engaged in active two-way communication with the student — explaining what to observe, correcting errors in real time, and building the situational awareness that separates a safe professional driver from an untrained one. In metro Atlanta, students get exposure to some of the most congested freight corridors in the Southeast, including I-285 (the Perimeter) and I-75/I-85 through downtown — experience that is genuinely valuable for drivers who will work in or through the Atlanta hub. In Savannah, public road sessions often include the I-16/I-95 interchange area and approaches to the port district, familiarizing students with the industrial and port environments where their careers may actually begin.

Georgia CDL schools use a mix of equipment reflecting the real fleet composition that students will encounter on the job. Georgia Driving Academy trains exclusively on automatic transmission vehicles — primarily late-model Freightliner, Kenworth, Volvo, and International tractors similar to those operated by Swift Transportation and other major carriers. Atlanta Truck Driving School offers students a choice of both manual and automatic transmissions, which is important for students who want to avoid the automatic transmission restriction that appears on a CDL when the skills test is taken in an automatic-only vehicle. Katlaw and Daly’s similarly accommodate both transmission types. For trailer training, nearly all Georgia CDL programs use standard 53-foot dry van trailers, which are the most common trailer type on Georgia roads and the configuration used for the DDS skills test; some programs with carrier partnerships also introduce flatbed trailer operations as supplementary instruction for students headed into specialized freight.

Required Behind-the-Wheel Hours in Georgia

Just as with theory training, the FMCSA sets no minimum number of BTW hours — the requirement is that the instructor must confirm and document proficiency in every element of both the range and public road curricula before certifying completion. Georgia’s DDS does not impose a mandatory minimum BTW hour requirement either; however, the DDS does require schools to document the total clock hours each student spends in BTW training. In practice, most Georgia Class A programs allocate between 100 and 120 hours of combined range and public road instruction within their 160-hour total program structure, with the remaining time devoted to classroom theory. Students who demonstrate proficiency quickly can potentially complete BTW requirements in fewer hours, while others may require additional time — and Georgia schools are expected to provide that additional instruction regardless of scheduling pressures.

Average CDL Program Length in Georgia

The typical Class A CDL program at a private career school in Georgia runs three to four weeks for full-time weekday students, with Daly’s Truck Driving School offering one of the shortest at 17 days and most other private schools completing training in four weeks. Weekend programs at schools like Katlaw extend the calendar timeline to approximately eight weekends (about two months), but the actual training hours are equivalent to the weekday program. TCSG college programs vary more widely — Savannah Technical College’s commercial truck driving certificate and Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s program run on academic term schedules and may take six to twelve weeks depending on how the course credit hours are arranged within a semester. GA paid CDL training programs operated through national carriers typically involve four to six weeks of company training time across classroom, range, and supervised on-road driving phases, often at a terminal outside Georgia.

Cost of Attending CDL Training Schools in Georgia

Private Class A CDL program tuition in Georgia ranges from approximately $2,200 at TCSG technical colleges (where the HOPE Career Grant or WIOA may cover the full cost) to $4,295 at private career schools for weekend programs. Katlaw Truck Driving School’s weekday Class A program is $3,995 (or $3,895 paid in full); the weekend option is $4,295 ($4,195 paid in full). Atlanta Truck Driving School charges $3,500 for its Class A one-on-one program. Savannah Technical College’s commercial truck driving program costs $2,207 as of November 2025, and Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s program may be fully covered by the HOPE Career Grant for qualifying Georgia residents. In addition to tuition, first-time CDL applicants in Georgia should budget for state licensing fees: the Commercial Learner’s Permit knowledge exam and permit fee is $10; the Commercial Application (CAP) fee at a DDS Customer Service Center is $35 (valid for up to four test attempts); and the CDL Road Skills Test fee is $50 per attempt.

Georgia refers to the CDL learner’s permit as the Commercial Instructional Permit — sometimes listed as a Class AP Instructional Permit for Class A applicants — and applicants must hold the permit for a minimum of 14 days before they may schedule a CDL skills test. The CDL license fee is $32, payable at the DDS Customer Service Center upon passing the skills test. Effective June 18, 2025, Georgia DDS no longer accepts paper medical examiner certificates by mail, fax, email, or in person — all medical certificates must be submitted electronically directly to DDS by the certified medical examiner through FMCSA’s National Registry, which means students should confirm this process with their examining physician at the time of their DOT physical.

CDL Schools in Georgia — Financial Assistance for Students

CDL schools in Georgia offer several avenues for financial assistance that can significantly reduce or eliminate the upfront cost of training. The WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) grant program, administered through WorkSource Georgia, provides funding for qualifying dislocated workers and low-income adults at approved training vendors including Katlaw, Georgia Driving Academy, and other DDS-certified schools. The Georgia HOPE Career Grant covers tuition at TCSG institutions — including Savannah Technical College and Georgia Piedmont Technical College — for eligible Georgia residents pursuing high-demand certificate programs, making technical college CDL training effectively free for many students. Veterans attending Georgia CDL programs can apply VA education benefits at schools like Katlaw, which has held VA approval for many years, and at GDA, which also accepts VA tuition assistance.

Private schools in Georgia commonly offer third-party financing arrangements and in-house payment plans for students who do not qualify for grants. Company-sponsored training through carrier partnerships — available at Katlaw, GDA, Daly’s, and most other Georgia schools — allows qualified applicants to attend at zero upfront cost, with tuition repaid through a post-training driving commitment rather than cash. The Georgia Fatherhood Program and Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency also provide tuition assistance to qualifying applicants, and several Georgia CDL schools work with these agencies as approved training providers. Georgia paid CDL training through a carrier remains the most common path for students who need zero upfront cost and want immediate employment after graduating.

Student-to-Instructor Ratio at Georgia CDL Schools

Student-to-instructor ratios at Georgia CDL schools vary by program type, but private career schools generally maintain small class sizes to maximize individual driving time. Katlaw Truck Driving School emphasizes small class sizes as a core feature of its program, typically working with six to twelve students per instructor during classroom sessions and using a one-instructor-per-truck model during behind-the-wheel training. Atlanta Truck Driving School operates on a strict one-on-one basis — each student works exclusively with a single instructor throughout the entire program, with no shared driving time whatsoever. TCSG technical college programs may operate with slightly larger cohorts depending on available equipment and range space, but DDS certification requirements include range size minimums that naturally limit how many students can train simultaneously. The FMCSA instructor qualification standards in 49 CFR Part 380 Subpart F establish the federal baseline, while Georgia’s own instructor certification system adds an additional layer of oversight specific to the state.

Instructor Requirements at Georgia CDL Schools

Georgia CDL school instructors must meet both federal FMCSA standards and the state’s own DDS certification requirements, which together create one of the more rigorous instructor qualification frameworks in the Southeast. At the state level, every CDL instructor at a Georgia DDS-certified school must hold an unexpired Commercial Driver’s License of the same class being taught — meaning a Class A CDL instructor must hold a valid Class A CDL. Before receiving a Georgia instructor certificate, applicants must submit to a national and state fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Georgia Applicant Processing System (GAPS), provide a certified Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from each state in which they were licensed over the past five years (excluding Georgia), submit a signed drug screen lab report from an accredited laboratory taken within 30 days of applying, provide a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate, and submit an employment letter on school letterhead from a DDS-certified CDL training school.

Candidates must also pass a written examination administered by the Georgia DDS Regulatory Compliance Division before an instructor permit can be issued. Georgia instructor certificates are valid for four years and must be renewed; any certificate that has been expired for more than three years requires the applicant to requalify from the beginning rather than simply applying for renewal. At the federal level, FMCSA Part 380 Subpart F sets the baseline instructor qualifications, but Georgia’s additional requirement of a DDS-administered exam represents a state-specific layer of screening that is not required in all states. The result is that students at Georgia-certified schools are taught by instructors who have passed both federal and state qualification standards — a meaningful distinction when selecting a program. For anyone evaluating truck driver training in GA, verifying that the school holds active DDS instructor certifications in addition to FMCSA TPR listing is an important step in the vetting process.

Accreditation of Georgia Truck Driving Schools

Georgia trucking schools operate under a layered accreditation and certification framework that includes federal registration, state DDS certification, and optional voluntary professional accreditation. GA trucking schools offering Class A CDL training must first be listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, which requires self-certification of compliance with federal ELDT standards. Schools must also hold a Certificate of Approval from the Georgia DDS Regulatory Compliance Division — a more rigorous state-level credential that involves curriculum review and approval, pre-operation inspection of facilities, and ongoing audits to verify compliance with DDS rules. Georgia DDS certificates of approval are valid for four years and must be renewed, giving the state a recurring opportunity to evaluate each school’s continued compliance.

Above and beyond these required credentials, some Georgia CDL schools hold voluntary professional accreditation through the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA). CVTA membership requires programs to submit to peer review of their curriculum, facilities, instructor qualifications, and business practices — providing a signal of quality that goes beyond state minimum certification. Katlaw Truck Driving School and Georgia Driving Academy are both CVTA members, as indicated by the CVTA logo displayed on their websites. TCSG schools like Savannah Technical College and Georgia Piedmont Technical College are institutionally accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which makes them eligible for federal Title IV financial aid in addition to state grants.

Job Placement at Georgia CDL Schools

Georgia truck driving schools take an active role in connecting graduates with employment, and most programs have established relationships with carriers that recruit directly from their campuses. Katlaw Truck Driving School reports that representatives from major trucking companies visit its Austell facility multiple times each week, that approximately half of students receive pre-hire offers before completing the program, and that 90 to 95 percent begin working immediately after training. Georgia Driving Academy hosts monthly recruiter events featuring Schneider, Werner Enterprises, Stevens Transport, and Covenant Transport, while Daly’s Truck Driving School maintains connections with more than 50 companies that have hired its graduates. Atlanta Truck Driving School assists graduates through a carrier network that includes Werner, TMC Transportation, and Swift Transportation, and Roadmaster Drivers School provides career services that leverage its national network of carrier partnerships.

Paid CDL Training in Georgia

Paid CDL training in Georgia is widely available through national and regional carriers that actively recruit in the state. Several national carriers — including Schneider, Werner Enterprises, Swift Transportation, and Stevens Transport — sponsor entry-level driver training programs that cover the full cost of tuition in exchange for a post-graduation driving commitment, typically one year or 100,000 miles with the sponsoring company. The paid CDL training programs available to Georgia applicants are designed to provide a direct path from zero experience to a paid driving career without requiring any upfront tuition payment. Key facts about Georgia paid CDL training:

• Cost to student: $0 upfront; tuition is repaid through driving, not cash
• Training location: May be at a company terminal (not always local to Georgia); confirm location before signing
• Commitment period: Typically 1 year or 100,000 miles of driving for the sponsor company
• Starting pay: Entry-level pay during the contract period; wages typically improve significantly after commitment is fulfilled
• Weekly pay during paid CDL training: Most programs pay about $500 to $900 per week, depending on whether the student is in classroom training, behind-the-wheel training, or the post-CDL trainer phase
• Pros: No tuition debt; immediate employment; mentored driving during early career stage
• Cons: Loss of employer choice during commitment period; early departure may trigger repayment clauses

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Truck Driving Job Statistics in Georgia

According to Projections Central and O*NET data, Georgia employed approximately 78,240 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers as of 2022, and that number is projected to grow to 90,230 by 2032 — a 15 percent increase that significantly outpaces the national 4 percent growth projection. Annual job openings for heavy truck drivers in Georgia are projected at 9,950 per year over the 2022 to 2032 projection period, driven by both employment growth and the replacement of retiring and departing drivers. The BLS OEWS May 2024 data establishes a Georgia median annual wage of approximately $54,770 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers — an income that ranks above Georgia’s overall median wage for all occupations and provides a standard of living that goes considerably further in Georgia than in high-cost states paying similar wages. Experienced OTR and flatbed drivers in the Georgia market have documented annual incomes of $84,446 or more, reflecting the premium pay available to drivers willing to pursue specialized freight in this high-demand corridor.

The national BLS baseline for context: as of May 2024, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationally earned a median of $57,440 per year, with the lowest 10 percent earning below $38,640 and the highest 10 percent earning above $78,800. GA CDL jobs at the entry-level wage range pay approximately $42,000 to $47,000 for first-year drivers, advancing toward the state median and beyond as experience and endorsements accumulate. GA truck driving schools prepare students to enter this market with the skills and credentials needed to compete for the best-paying freight lanes immediately after licensing. The Georgia trucking market’s proximity to the Port of Savannah, the Atlanta distribution hub, and the emerging Hyundai Metaplant automotive corridor means that drivers who complete Class A CDL-A schools in Georgia have immediate access to some of the Southeast’s highest-volume freight lanes.

Job Outlook for Truck Drivers in Georgia

The job outlook for CDL holders in Georgia is meaningfully stronger than the national average, reflecting the state’s position as a freight growth leader rather than simply tracking national trends. While the BLS projects 4 percent national employment growth for heavy truck drivers from 2024 to 2034, Georgia’s own state projections show 15 percent growth over a comparable period — nearly four times the national rate. GA trucking jobs and GA truck driving jobs are both expanding across every segment of the market, from port drayage and automotive freight to long-haul interstate runs and regional dedicated lanes. Georgia’s freight system is projected to carry 87 percent of all new tonnage coming online by 2050, and the state’s logistics employment growth has consistently outpaced the national average for most of the past decade. The Port of Savannah’s $4.5 billion infrastructure investment, the Hyundai Metaplant’s production ramp-up, the opening of the Blue Ridge Connector inland port in Gainesville in 2026, and the continued expansion of Atlanta’s distribution infrastructure all point to sustained, multi-decade demand for Class A CDL drivers across the state.

Types of Truck Driving Jobs Available in Georgia

Georgia’s diverse freight economy supports a wide variety of Class A CDL job types, from long-haul over-the-road runs through the Southeast corridor to specialized port drayage at Savannah, dedicated automotive freight near the Hyundai Metaplant, and local last-mile distribution within the Atlanta metro. The state’s combination of a major coastal port, a national-scale inland distribution hub, a growing automotive manufacturing base, and a large agricultural sector creates career opportunities across virtually every segment of the trucking industry. Truck driving jobs in GA range from high-mileage OTR positions with premium pay to predictable local routes with daily home time, giving CDL holders the flexibility to match their lifestyle preferences to the right freight niche.

CDL-A Jobs in Georgia: Long-Haul and Interstate Driving

Long-haul and over-the-road (OTR) truck driving jobs in Georgia are abundant, fueled by the state’s position at the center of the Southeast freight network and its direct connections to I-75 (the primary automotive corridor from Georgia to Detroit), I-85 (the Northeast corridor), I-20 (East-West between Atlanta and the coast), and I-16 (Savannah to Macon). Georgia-based long-haul drivers frequently run freight lanes that connect Savannah to Atlanta, Atlanta to the Midwest and Northeast, and Georgia’s agricultural regions to national distribution centers. Annual earnings for experienced OTR Class A drivers in Georgia range from approximately $67,000 to $84,000 or more, with flatbed OTR specialists in the state documented at an average of $84,446 per year. Drivers who accept team driving arrangements or commit to high-mileage accounts can push annual earnings above $90,000.

Truck Driving Jobs in Georgia: Regional Route Opportunities

Regional trucking jobs in Georgia offer drivers the ability to cover multi-state Southeast freight lanes while returning home most nights or every weekend — a balance that is especially feasible given Georgia’s central position within the Southeast. Major regional carriers operating Georgia networks include Crete Carrier, TMC Transportation, and Werner Enterprises, all of which recruit actively at Georgia CDL schools and offer regional driving positions that typically keep drivers within a 500-mile radius of their home terminal. Trucking jobs in GA with regional carriers typically pay between $55,000 and $70,000 per year for company drivers, with additional performance bonuses and per-diem pay that can push total compensation meaningfully higher. Regional flatbed positions — particularly those serving the automotive supply chain feeding the Hyundai Metaplant — are among the most competitive in terms of pay and consistency of freight.

Trucking Jobs in Georgia: Intrastate Hauling

Intrastate CDL jobs in Georgia — those that operate exclusively within the state’s borders — represent a significant segment of the job market, particularly for drivers serving the Savannah port drayage corridor, Atlanta’s distribution network, and agricultural freight moving between rural production areas and urban processing facilities. Drivers holding a Georgia-only commercial license issued at age 18 may operate intrastate CMVs (the “Georgia Only” restriction is removed without additional testing when the driver turns 21), making Georgia one of the more accessible states for younger drivers seeking to start an intrastate career before qualifying for interstate operation.

Intrastate drivers in Georgia typically earn between $50,000 and $70,000 per year depending on freight type and employer. Port drayage specialists operating at the Port of Savannah — moving containers between the terminal and nearby distribution centers — often work on a combination of hourly pay and per-move rates that can generate competitive annual income for drivers willing to navigate the port environment. CDL paid training in GA through intrastate carriers is less common than through national OTR fleets, but some regional logistics companies do offer sponsored training arrangements for drivers committed to Georgia-based freight.

CDL Jobs in Georgia: Local Delivery and Pickup

Local truck driver jobs in Georgia are centered heavily in the Atlanta metro and Savannah areas, where the density of distribution centers, retail fulfillment operations, food service distributors, and construction supply companies creates consistent demand for Class A drivers who can work predictable routes with daily home time. Local driving positions at companies like Sysco, McLane Company, and Dollar General distribution centers — all of which operate Georgia facilities — typically pay between $50,000 and $65,000 per year on hourly rates of approximately $20 to $35 per hour. GA CDL paid training is available through some local fleet employers, though most local positions prefer candidates who arrive with an existing CDL. CDL jobs in GA at local food and beverage distributors often include benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and quarterly safety bonuses that increase effective total compensation above the base hourly rate.

Truck Driver Jobs in Georgia: Specialized Hauling

Specialized CDL-A jobs in Georgia include flatbed hauling, tanker and hazmat transport, auto hauling, refrigerated freight, and oversized-load operations — all of which command premium pay above standard dry van rates. The Port of Brunswick, which became the nation’s busiest port for automobiles and heavy equipment, generates auto-hauling demand that is unique to coastal Georgia and supports dedicated car-carrier fleets operating between the port and dealer networks across the Southeast. Hazmat tanker drivers in Georgia earn a median annual salary of approximately $60,183, according to Salary.com data from November 2024, with the range spanning from $53,293 to $68,439 and specialists earning above $75,000 annually.

GA truck driver training that includes endorsement preparation for Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), and Doubles/Triples (T) significantly expands the job market available to a new CDL holder and supports faster wage progression into the $70,000 to $90,000+ range. Owner-operators in Georgia who leverage the state’s high-volume freight environment can generate gross revenues well above $200,000 annually, with net earnings typically ranging from $70,000 to $150,000 after fuel, insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs.

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Conclusion

Georgia is a freight state unlike any other in the Southeast. The Port of Savannah’s record container volumes, Atlanta’s position as the region’s dominant distribution hub, and the Hyundai Metaplant’s emergence as the largest economic development project in the state’s history have created a CDL job market that is both vast and growing faster than the national average — with 15 percent projected employment growth for heavy truck drivers through 2032 compared to just 4 percent nationally. Whether you pursue trucker training in Georgia through a private career school like Katlaw or Daly’s, a multi-campus program like Georgia Driving Academy, or an affordable TCSG certificate at Savannah Technical College, you will complete your training within a market that is actively and urgently looking for qualified drivers right now.

The path to a Georgia Class A CDL is straightforward: obtain your Commercial Instructional Permit from the DDS, complete FMCSA-approved ELDT theory and behind-the-wheel training, hold your CLP for a minimum of 14 days, and pass the DDS skills test. The cost of training — ranging from effectively free through WIOA or HOPE Career Grants at TCSG schools to $4,300 at private programs — is modest relative to the earning potential that a Class A CDL unlocks in this market. Completing CDL training in Georgia positions you to work in one of the most active freight economies in the United States, with career trajectories that range from entry-level regional driving to six-figure owner-operator income over time. Take the next step today — explore your program options, review the state’s licensing requirements, and apply for paid training if upfront cost is a barrier.

Explore the full directory of Truck Driving Schools in Georgia on this page, review the Georgia CDL License Requirements, or browse current Truck Driving Jobs in GA. If you want to greatly increase your chances of successfully passing the CDL Knowledge Exam administered by the state licensing agency on your first attempt, then be sure to get the Complete Georgia CDL Practice Test Study Package or the Complete Georgia CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package!

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