Company-sponsored CDL training: how it works
Updated October 2026
Some carriers train new drivers for free or reimburse tuition in exchange for a work commitment.
How it usually works
You attend the company's school or a partner school, get your CDL, then drive for the company for a set time, often around a year. Some programs pay a small wage during training.
Read the contract
What do you owe if you leave early, and how is it calculated? What's the pay during training and after? Where will you be based, and what kind of runs will you do?
Compare it to other options
Workforce grants, community college programs and paying for a private school are worth comparing. A program that's free upfront but expensive to leave early may not be the best deal.
