Massachusetts Truck Driving Schools

Trucking companies are constantly in need of new drivers to operate their tractor-trailers, and Massachusetts is home to some of the largest businesses and logistics companies in the United States.

It’s easy to find truck driving schools in major Massachusetts cities like Boston, Salem, Plymouth, Newburyport, Brookline, Worcester, Springfield, and Northampton. For the most part, Massachusetts residents are within an hour of a high quality CDL school.

Cost of truck driving school

The cost of truck driving school will depend on the type of CDL license you wish to obtain and special endorsements that you would like to have. There are other factors like amount of driving time, quality of equipment, and if they provide food or lodging, which can impact the overall price. Generally, most schools fall within a range of $3,000 – $7,000 for their CDL programs.

You should be aware that most schools do not require full payment upfront. This can allow you to keep your current job and pay for schooling over a set period of time.

You should also take advantage of grants and scholarships to help offset the overall cost of your program. Visit the website of the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance to browse through current grants, scholarships, and financial aid options that could be applied to a truck driving school. If you are currently a member of the military, or you are a veteran of the armed forces, then there are likely many different scholarships and grants that you can apply for at a federal and state of Massachusetts level.

Picking the best CDL school

There are many truck driving schools in Massachusetts to choose from, but not all of them will provide the same level of training. Cost will obviously play a big factor, and depending on your financial situation you may want to choose a school that helps you become certified at the lowest price point possible. However, here are a few other factors that you will want to keep in mind while selecting the right truck driving school for your interests.

Job placement

Many people don’t realize that most truck driving schools will help you find a job after getting your license. Many truck driving companies are actively looking for qualified candidates and provide incentives to schools who can connect them with future employees. Going to a great school will mean that you will have the option to choose between multiple offers, resulting in the best conditions possible for your future job.

When researching schools, be sure to ask them about their job placement rate as well as specific companies that many of their students end up working for.

Yard time

You will spend quite a bit of time in the classroom, which is valuable as it helps you prepare for your CDL test and you will learn many rules and regulations needed to operate a tractor trailer. However you will learn the most while out in the yard and physically driving and interacting with their trucks. The problem is that keeping a large fleet of fully operational 18-wheelers costs the school money, so some schools limit the amount of time that you spend in the yard to a legal bare minimum.

If you do go with a low-priced truck driving school, then it is important to know how much time you may be missing out on yard training.

Classroom size

It’s tough to know the quality of instructors at truck driving schools as they come and go with time and some schools have one or two great instructors and the rest are average. However, you can easily compare classroom sizes between schools.

All truck driving schools will cap their classroom size. Smaller classrooms will give you more one-on-one time with instructors, giving you a better chance of learning more during your trainings.