Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

Training Certificate

Overview Program Plan and Costs Careers Opportunities

Overview

In five short weeks, students will be ready to pass the Class A Commercial Driver’s License exam and hit the road as a licensed commercial truck driver. Students will get classroom and highway instruction as they train to sign on with a trucking company or become their own boss as an owner-operator of a commercial vehicle.

Graduates will be prepared to test for a Class A Commercial Drivers License. If accepted into the program, students are required to obtain a CDL Permit before class starts. A 10-year driving record obtained from DMV, SLED background check and DOT physical required. All paperwork must be completed and forwarded to FDTC before the student can be scheduled for a class. The program has been inspected, approved, and licensed by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. All instructors meet the department’s standards and are certified by the DMV. We aim to provide the highest levels of safety and professionalism with a motto of “Courtesy Counts and Safety Saves.” Students are given the opportunity to take the CDL driving test at their local DMV office in the same vehicle they used to complete their training.

How to Enroll

To pursue this certificate, please click on the courses below to see availability. You can register for courses online, and you do not have to apply to the college!

Tuition Assistance
Training Resources

Questions?
Call 803.732.0432 to talk to us about this program, or email cce@midlandstech.edu

Print Plan

Sample Program Plan and Costs

This course is taught by Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) at MTC's Airport Campus and includes classroom and highway instruction.

Prior to registration, students must complete an interview with a certified admissions representative. For an interview and to register, call 843.413.2715 or 843.661.8385 to speak to an FDTC representative.

Classes typically meet from 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Thursday.

Class Delivery Methods

View current courses offered via our online course directory.

On-Campus Traditional. Classes meet on campus.
Virtual 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom.
Hybrid Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual.
Online 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time.

Careers

Commercial Truck Driver

Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers’ routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip.

Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and other drivers take many different routes throughout the country. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada.

Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives.

Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.

Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work.

Projected Job Growth

+9%

Average Annual Salary

$39,040

According to EMSI data as of 2018

Where Can I Work?

  • Local Trucking Services
  • National Shipping Companies

What’s next after I complete this program?

Enter the Workforce

After obtaining a commercial driver's license, you can pursue job opportunities as a long-haul cargo truck driver, local truck driver, bus driver, heavy equipment hauler, dispatcher, and others.