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CDL & Truck Driving Schools in Florida
21 schools in Florida offer CDL & truck driving-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 16 registered apprenticeship programs in Florida train CDL & truck driving apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Occupation pay is what working CDL & truck driving professionals in Florida earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
CDL & Truck Driving licensing in Florida: State license required
Florida issues CDLs through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Applicants need a regular Class E license first, must pass the CDL knowledge test for a commercial learner's permit, hold it 14 days, complete FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training, and pass the 3-part skills test. Minimum age is 18 to drive within Florida and 21 to cross state lines or haul hazmat.
Official source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) · Exam: CDL knowledge test(s) for the CLP plus the 3-part CDL skills test (vehicle inspection, basic control, road test) · Typical requirement: Valid Florida Class E license; age 18 for intrastate, 21 for interstate; DOT medical certificate; CLP held at least 14 days; FMCSA ELDT from a Training Provider Registry school for first-time Class A/B (no minimum hours federally; typical programs 160-240 hours over 4-8 weeks)
Official license records related to CDL & truck driving in Florida
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Commercial Drivers License (CDL) — Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
- Teaching Driver Education — FL Department of Education~Bureau of Teacher Certification
- Cardroom Bus Officer/Director/Shareholder — FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation~Division of Professions
- Professional Individual Occupational — FL Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation~Division of Professions
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Florida College | Madison | public | $804 | 53.8% | $33,929 |
| North Florida Technical College | Starke | public | $1,590 | 73.8% | $31,683 |
| Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley | public | $2,307 | 41.4% | $32,320 |
| Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College | Miami Lakes | public | $2,839 | 5.8% | $35,014 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | public | $4,128 | 38.5% | $42,244 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | public | $3,815 | 44.3% | $38,315 |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | public | $3,957 | 36.9% | $36,739 |
| Florida Gateway College | Lake City | public | $5,364 | 52.1% | $37,894 |
| Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood | public | $6,677 | 69.5% | $33,166 |
| Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee | public | $7,781 | 40.5% | $37,561 |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | public | $9,182 | 38.1% | $41,923 |
| Marion Technical College | Ocala | public | $8,831 | 76.2% | $36,095 |
| Atlantic Technical College | Coconut Creek | public | $10,414 | 60.3% | $38,560 |
| Orange Technical College-South Campus | Orlando | public | $9,215 | 40.2% | $33,350 |
| Big Bend Technical College | Perry | public | $9,964 | 87.6% | $27,609 |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | public | $23,620 | 56.3% | $36,188 |
| Ridge Technical College | Winter Haven | public | $23,170 | 91.6% | $33,484 |
| Jones Technical Institute | Jacksonville | private nonprofit | $25,462 | 71.5% | $24,576 |
| Flagler Technical College | Palm Coast | public | not reported | 85.4% | not reported |
| Treasure Coast Technical College | Vero Beach | public | $8,500 | 87.8% | not reported |
| Gadsden Technical College | Quincy | public | $3,866 | 88% | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not CDL & truck driving graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Aid deadlines for CDL & truck driving programs in Florida
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