109 Truck Driving Schools in Texas with Student Reviews

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

We show you how to choose the best truck driving schools in Texas with our comprehensive list of truck driving schools in Texas. On this page you will also find a list of truck driving schools in Texas 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. 

Trucking Schools

Schools:             109
Avg Class Size:   18
Avg Tuition:  $6,917
Avg Loan:     $5,461
Scholarship: $2,938

Truck Driving Jobs

Employed:     202,270
Yearly Pay:    $48,150
Monthly Pay:   $4,013
Weekly Pay:     $1,003
Hourly Wage:   $25.08
National Pay: $50,340

Texas heavy truck driver jobs information was current as of May 2021 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Truck Driving Schools in Texas

AAA CDL School**
14803 Camino Rancho Drive
Houston, TX 77083

Academy School of Careers
9001 Cashew Drive
Suite 100
El Paso, TX 79907

Action Career Training  
Abilene Location
598 Westwood Drive
Suite 204
Abilene, TX 79603

Action Career Training 
Pharr Location
1403 W. Ferguson Avenue
Pharr, TX 78577

Alamo Truck Driving School
4300 SE Loop 410
San Anonio, TX 78222

Alvin Community College  
Alvin Campus
3110 Mustang Road
Alvin, TX 77511

Alvin Community College
Pearland Campus
4717 Bailey Road
Pearland, TX 77581

Amarillo College Truck Driving Academy
East Campus
2000 E. Avenue
Amarillo, TX 79111

Associated Training Services
24143 Interstate 20
Wills Point, TX 75169

ATDS Truck Driving School†
Elm Mott Campus
124 Truckers Lane
Elm Mott, TX 76640

ATDS Truck Driving School
Killeen Campus
1001 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd
Killeen, TX 76541

Aurora Health and Educational Institute**
10935 Ben Crenshaw Drive
Suite 105
El Paso, TX 79935

Austin CDL Services**
9741 E. U.S. Hwy 290 
Austin, TX 78724

Austin Community College
2800 Hwy 21
San Marcos, TX 78666

Axis Business Academy
10935 Ben Crenshaw Drive 
El Paso, TX 79935

Bear Cat Truck Driving School
2799 Mineral Wells Hwy
Weatherford, TX 76088

Blinn College
5503 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy
College Station, TX 77845

Brookhaven Community College
3939 Valley View Lane
Farmers Branch, TX 75244

C1 Truck Driver Training
4200 South Fwy
Suite 630
Fort Worth, TX 76115

Career Trucking School
Tyler Campus
1530 SSW Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701

Career Trucking School
Tyler Campus
6986 County Road 384
Tyler, TX 75708

Career Trucking School
McKinney Campus
2200 W. University Drive
McKinney, TX 75071

Career Trucking School
Dallas Campus
12800 Abrams Road
Dallas, TX 75243

CDL Express, Inc.
9800 Eastex Fwy 
Houston, TX 77093
*Se Habla Espanol

CDL Fast Track-Online Course
4136 Business Park Drive
Amarillo, TX 79110

CDL Help
333 Hurst Drive
Bedford, TX 76022
*Se Habla Espanol

CDL Help
3901 W. Arkansas Lane
Arlington, TX 76016
*Se Habla Espanol

CDL Help
227 N.E. Loop 820
Hurst, TX 76053
*Se Habla Espanol

CDL Test Truck
801 Sandy Creek Drive
Allen, TX 75002

Celadon Driving Academy
8401 Killam Industrial Blvd
Laredo, TX 78045

Center for Employment Training
294 Candelaria Street
El Paso, TX 79907
*Se Habla Espanol

Central Texas College
6200 W. Central Texas Expy
Killeen, TX 76549

Class A CDL
11354 Eastex Fwy
Houston, TX 77093
*Se Habla Espanol

Coastal Bend College
704 Coyote Trail
Alice, TX 78332

Collin County Community College
2200 W. University Drive
McKinney, TX 75071

Continental Truck Driver Training & Education
Dallas Location
6704 South R.L. Thornton Fwy
Dallas, TX 75232

Continental Truck Driver Training & Education
Houston Location
2656 South Loop West Fwy
Suite 109
Houston, TX 77054

Del Mar College
4101 Old Brownsville Road
Corpus Christi, TX 78405

Delta Career Institute
1310 Pennsylvania Street
Beaumont, TX 77701

Drive Pro
Early Campus
300 Early Blvd
Suite 105
Early, TX 76802

Drive Pro
Ranger Campus
1100 College Circle
Ranger, TX 76470

Drive Pro
Stephenville Campus
1835 W. Lingleville Road
Stephenville, TX 76401

E Z Commercial Drivers License
12490 Hwy 59 South
Shepherd, TX 77371

Eastfield College
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150

El Paso Community College
9050 Viscount Blvd
El Paso, TX 79925

Frank Phillips College
1301 W. Roosevelt Street
Borger, TX 79008

Get It Done CDL
5523 Brunswick
Houston, TX 77039
*Se Habla Espanol

Grayson County College
6101 Grayson Drive
Denison, TX 75020

Houston Community College†
555 Community College Drive
Bldg B
Houston, TX 77013

Howard College
Big Spring Campus
1001 Birdwell Lane
Big Spring, TX 79720

Howard College
Angelo State University
3501 U.S. Hwy 67
San Angelo, TX 76905

International Business College**
1155 N. Zaragosa 
Suite 100
El Paso, TX 79907

International Schools
2241 S. Watson Road
Suite 181
Arlington, TX 76010

Kilgore College Commercial Driving Academy
1100 Broadway
Kilgore, TX 75662

Lamar Institute of Technology
855 E. Lavaca 
Beaumont, TX 77705 

Laredo Community College
West End Washington Street
Laredo, TX 78040 

Lee College
200 Lee Drive
Baytown, TX 77520

LHCT Training Center
4408 State Hwy 359
Laredo, TX 78043

Lone Star College 
Spring Campus
24037 W. Hardy Road
Spring, TX 77373

Lone Star College
North Harris Campus
2700 West W. Thorne Drive
Houston, TX 77073

Lufkin Truck Driving Academy
2006 N. Timberland Drive
Lufkin, TX 75904

McLennan Community College
1400 College Drive
Waco, TX 76708

Mesilla Valley Training Institute
7440 Doniphan Drive 
Canutillo, TX 79901

Midland College 
3200 W. Cuthbert Avenue 
Midland, TX 79701

Millis Training Institute
3501 South Interstate 35W
Burleson, TX 76028

MT Training Center
Grand Prairie Campus
1801 S. Great Southwest Pkwy
Grand Prairie, TX 75051

MT Training Center
Hurst Campus
815 Trailwood Drive
Suite 200
Hurst, TX 76053

My Texas CDL
564 Cody Road
Ennis, TX 75119

Northeast Texas Community College
2886 Farm to Market 1735
Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455

North Texas Truck Driving School
2929 Metro
Denton, TX 76207

North Texas Institute
4005 Campus Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76119

† Truck driving school offers truck driver training programs that are certified to meet the standards of the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI).
** Truck driving school is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

How to Choose the Best Truck Driving Schools in Texas

      Most truck driving schools in Texas train their students by following the same basic curriculum. In the classroom, students are taught what they need to know to pass the written knowledge test when they go to obtain their Texas commercial drivers license. This includes coursework in:   

1.       The driving laws and safety regulations as they pertain to truck driving in the state of Texas.
2.       The different mechanical and safety parts of a semi.
3.       The various driving techniques needed to competently operate a tractor trailer.

      In the training yard, students observe and practice operating a tractor trailer using the techniques they were taught in the classroom, so that they will be prepared to pass the pre-trip inspection and the driving test when they go to obtain their Texas commercial drivers license.

      That’s basically it. There may be minor differences in how the coursework is handled from school to school but, the end objective is always the same; train students to become safe, knowledgeable, and highly qualified commercial truck drivers who are ready to obtain their Texas CDL and begin their truck driving career.

      With that being said, there are a few things you will need to take into careful consideration when choosing a truck driving school in Texas. The decision you make could lead you on the path to a great learning experience or a dead end disaster. Although they teach the same thing, not all truck driving schools are the same.

Cost

      Of all the factors you need to consider when choosing between truck driving schools in Texas, the tuition cost will invariably be near the top of the list. Let’s face it, the final decision you make will determine the quality of training you receive and the amount of money you pay to receive that training. Although price is not necessarily the most important factor when choosing a truck driving school, it is still very important. In the real world, you get what you pay for. The same holds true when it comes to education and vocational training. Now, don’t get me wrong. There may be a few truck driving schools in Texas that charge an outrageous amount of money for mediocre training. Remember, a truck driving school is a business, and like any other business, it is in business to make a profit so that it can stay open. Like any other business, there are good ones and there are bad ones. On average, CDL training in Texas should cost somewhere between $2,500 and $4,500. There is usually a $500 difference in pricing between competing truck driving schools in the same general location. If the difference in price between schools in the same location is more or less than $500, you may want to do some research and find out why one school charges much more than the others. Here are some questions you may want to find the answers to when doing your research:  

Which one would you rather train on?

1. Is their equipment more modern than the other truck driving schools in Texas?
2. Do they only train students in simulators or in tractor trailers?
3. How much “behind the wheel” time do they give their students?
4. Do they have more instructors on their payroll?
5. Do they have larger class sizes and, therefore, more wear and tear on their trucks, and higher fuel expenses?                     
6. Do they have more trucks for the students to train on than the other truck driving schools in Texas?
7. Do they go above and beyond the state minimum “required hours of training”?
8. Are they accredited by the Professional Truck Driver Institute?
9. Are they accredited by the Better Business Bureau?
10. Do they award student scholarships or participate in state and federal grant programs?
11. Do they have a more successful job placement program than the other truck driving schools in Texas?

      If the answer to these questions invariably comes up as “no”, then that school is most likely charging students more money for no other reason than to make a higher profit.

        Almost all truck driving schools in Texas offer financial aid for those who qualify. Student financial aid can help lower the cost of attending school. Many truck driving schools in Texas actively participate in state and federal grant programs and even give out scholarships for academic excellence. Student loans are also available for those who qualify. Fill out the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) and check with the financial aid office of the school to see if there are any available student grants, scholarships, or loans you may qualify for if you decide to attend.

Program Length

      When choosing between truck driving schools in Texas, be wary of any school that promises to get you trained and on the road in two weeks or less. Not only is this unrealistic, it is also unsafe. Commercial driver training should take anywhere from three weeks to three months to complete. There are two main factors that will determine the length of a school’s CDL training program. They are:

1.       Full-time vs. Part-time training.
2.       State mandated regulations. 

      Full-time training programs will usually be much shorter since the students will be going to class and training five days a week. Part-time classes will usually be longer since the students will only be training on nights and weekends. Another factor that will determine the length of a school’s CDL training program is the minimum amount of hours a student is required to train both in the classroom and in the yard. Some states require students to acquire a minimum of 160 hours of CDL training while other states do not. If a truck driving school promises to train you and get you ready to take your CDL tests in a week… RUN!… in the other direction! These type of schools are called “CDL mills” and they are only out to take your money and get you out the door as fast as possible so they can exploit a new batch of unsuspecting students. Trust me, learning how to safely and competently operate a tractor trailer takes longer than seven days. Passing the CDL tests and obtaining your commercial drivers license doesn’t make you a well-trained truck driver anymore than getting a hunting license makes you a great hunter.

Location

      Location, location, location. In a perfect world, the best truck driving school would be the school that is closest to where you live. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and so, you may have to travel some distance to get the best CDL training in Texas. Think of it as job preparation. If you can’t even handle the daily commute to truck driving school then, maybe you’re pursuing the wrong profession. If the best truck driving school is hours away or in another state, then obviously you’ll have to take living expenses into account. Some truck driving schools in Texas may provide room and board for an added expense and may put you up in a hotel until your training is complete. One more thing to consider. If you do decide to attend a truck driving school outside the state of Texas, be sure to read up on the rules and regulations for transferring your out of state CDL to the state of Texas. You may have to simply fill out a few forms or you may have to retake the written test, the driving test, or both. Also, make sure that the amount of hours you will receive during your out-of-state CDL training will meet the minimum required hours for obtaining your CDL in the state of Texas. 

Behind the Wheel Time

      Probably one of the single most important factors to consider when choosing between truck driving schools in Texas is how much “behind the wheel” drive time they give their students. Not simulator time or passenger seat observation time but, shifting, steering, braking, backing up, and parking time. Remember, most truck driving school students have never even been inside a semi. Driving a tractor trailer competently and confidently takes practice, practice, and more practice. The amount of drive time a school gives their students directly impacts the price of tuition because of the expenses involved. It will also impact how well you can drive a tractor trailer when you graduate.

Ratio of Instructors to Students

      First of all, when you attend a truck driving school, you are paying for an education. You can’t get an education unless you are given instruction, and you can’t get instruction without an instructor. Paying hundreds or thousands of dollars to a school to be “self-taught” would be just plain dumb. But, in essence, that’s what you are doing if the truck driving school you attend has too many students and too few instructors. Almost all truck driving schools in Texas are set up the same way. There is a building where students are given classroom instruction and there is a training yard where students are given driving instruction. In order to keep costs down and profits up, some schools will have four or five students sitting in the cab with the instructor instead of one-on-one instruction. They may also have multiple students training behind the wheel of two or three semis at the same time while the instructors walk from truck to truck, educating the students on the right way and wrong way to maneuver the vehicle. While being behind the wheel and getting some drive time is a good thing, not having one-on-one instruction the entire time can be very detrimental to your ability to learn how to maneuver a tractor trailer correctly. In order to learn a skill, you must practice it over and over again until it becomes “second nature”. The problem is, if you are practicing something the wrong way, you will eventually be ingrained with bad habits, and it is a well known fact that it is harder to get rid of bad habits than it is to pick them up in the first place. 

The Instructors

      The instructors are the cornerstone of any truck driving school. Without instructors, all you have is a building with a bunch of books, and a parking lot full of tractor trailers. It is the instructors that will ultimately make you or break you. A good truck driving school will have good instructors, and good instructors will be knowledgeable, experienced, nurturing, and enthusiastic about what they’re teaching.  

      If you are paying thousands of dollars for an education, you want to learn from the best, and the best instructors become the best at what they are teaching through years of experience. Would you want to be taught by someone who just graduated from truck driving school a year ago? Of course not. You want to be trained by someone who knows what it’s like to have to maneuver a 53 foot rig through a crowded city, or what it’s like to carry a five ton load over hilly terrain, or what it takes to beat the clock and deliver a time sensitive load on time. You want instructors who will not only lecture but will also listen. Instructors who will listen to your questions and to your concerns. Instructors who will take the time to help you catch up with the rest of the class if you happen to learn at a slower pace. Instructors who are there because they want to be, not because they have to be. They should be up-to-date with all the industry trends and regulations.

      Before you shell out thousands of dollars to a truck driving school, set up an appointment to tour the school and meet the instructors. Before you arrive at the school, write down any questions you would like to ask the instructors about the program and about their experience in the field of truck driving. Talk to some of the students and ask them if they’re pleased with the instructors, the program, and the equipment. You may want to schedule a tour towards the end of the school’s semester so the students can give you a good review of their training experience.   

Accreditation

      Some truck driving schools in Texas have been accredited by the Professional Truck Driver Institute or PTDI. The Professional Truck Driver Institute
is a non-profit organization that advocates truck-driver training standards, driver professionalism, and safety. They introduced a uniform skill performance, curriculum, and certification standard in 1989 in order to raise the bar on the truck driver training process. Although it isn’t necessary to be accredited by the PTDI in order to be a reputable truck driving school, only reputable truck driving schools are accredited by the PTDI, as it is an expensive and stringent process to become PTDI accredited. 

        Since truck driving schools in Texas are businesses and therefore, should be held accountable for their business practices and ethics, you may want to check to see what kind of rating or reviews a school has received by the Better Business Bureau. Do they have an “A” rating or an “F” rating? Do they have any unresolved complaints that have been brought forth by the students of the school? Is the school accredited by the Better Business Bureau? Truck driving schools in Texas that are BBB accredited must commit to a high standard of honesty and fairness in order to receive an “A” rating. BBB accreditation isn’t necessary to make a truck driving school a great school but, it does show that the school takes its business practices very seriously and holds itself accountable to a higher standard.

Job Placement  

      Let’s face it, the main reason for going to truck driving school is to get a good paying job when you graduate. How successful a school is in getting their graduates good paying jobs with reputable trucking companies is one of the main factors to consider when choosing a truck driving school. If a school’s job placement program has a low success rate, then you may want to consider going to a trucking school with a higher job placement rate. There are many reputable trucking companies in Texas that will hire graduates with little to no truck driving experience if they graduated from a reputable truck driving school. 

      You want your truck driving school experience to be educational, beneficial, and fun. Choose the right school and it will be. Choose the wrong one, and your truck driving career could stall before it even starts.