Truck Driver Training Program Information

Program Overview

This page will have the answers you need to choose the program that best suits your needs. After reading this information, filling out the application, and submitting the required documents, the next step is a short interview.

Cecil College began training truck drivers in 1984. The program is certified through Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). The College has successfully trained thousands of drivers and have a pass rate of 95+% on the CDL - Class "A" test!

Classroom time will occur at Elkton Station, 107 Railroad Ave, Elkton MD 21921, and the driving portion of the program will be located on the North East Campus at One Seahawk Dr, North East, MD 21901.

Program Requirements

  • 18 years of age (you must be 21 to drive out-of-state)
  • Good driving record (less than 3 points over the past 3 years)
  • Be able to pass a Department of Transportation drug screen and physical
  • Be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently (reading & comprehension test will be given during intake interview)
    • (Required by MVA/DMV state agencies – interpretation accommodations not available through this course)
  • Possess a valid driver’s license from your resident state (provisional driver's license is prohibited by MVA for CDL testing)
  • Have reliable transportation
  • Be able to learn to shift a manual transmission vehicle
  • No DUI’s or DWI’s in the past 5 years

Program Details

Determine the correct program for you:

CDL A
Tractor Trailer and anything smaller including dump trucks with trailers.
CDL B
Large commercial vehicles without trailers including dump trucks and straight trucks.
Passenger/School Bus
This can be added to any commercial license.

Other Endorsements

Each endorsement added to the license increases the options for possible jobs, but also increases the cost of renewing the license. It is best practice to have the ones needed and not necessarily all of them. Basic knowledge for each of the endorsements is included in the course work, but additional study on your own would be necessary to prepare for the testing.

  • Doubles/triples and tanker only require an additional paper test to add to a license.
  • HazMat is a completely separate process. Obtain an application from the MVA, pay the required fees, get finger printed, and wait for the approval letter from the MVA to show eligibility to take the paper test. FMCSA regulations require completion of classwork prior to testing for the HazMat endorsement.

Permit

Instruction for studying for the permit is included in the CDL A and B curriculum.

License Testing

At the end of the scheduled class, students will be assigned a testing time. Tests are done onsite by qualified examiners certified by the MVA to administer the final exam. After successfully completing the exam, students are eligible to return to MVA to upgrade current license to a CDL.

Class Schedule

CDL A

Two options are available: full-time and evening/weekend. Both classes are 300 hours:

  • Full-time:
    • Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
    • 8-week program; as soon as one class ends, the next one is scheduled to begin.
    • Permit study portion is the first week of class. Students must obtain permit by second week of class to be eligible to continue.
  • Evening/weekend (both evening and weekend times, not a choice of either or):
    • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Saturday/Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
    • 10-week program; as soon as one class ends, the next one is scheduled to begin.
    • Permit study portion is first the two weeks of evening classes. Students must obtain the permit by the third week of class to be eligible to continue.

CDL B

Class is 97 hours over two and a half weeks as follows:

  • Week 1: Monday–Wednesday
  • Week 2: No class; time is for student to obtain permit and complete drug testing
  • Week 3: Monday–Friday

Costs and Paying for the Program

Determine your options for funding your program:

Program Cost Notes
CDL A $5,045 Out of state residents must pay an additional $250
CDL B $2,200 Out of state residents must pay an additional $50
Passenger/School Bus only $2,695 Has automatic restriction
Unrestricted Passenger/School Bus CDL B $2,620
Adding Passenger/School Bus to existing CDL $495 For graduates only

Private Pay

CDL A
One third of the tuition is due at the time of registration. The second third is due before class starts and the remaining third is due before class is half over.
CDL B and Passenger/School Bus
Tuition must be paid before class starts.

Workforce Centers

If you are unemployed, underemployed, or on disability, you may qualify for funding through one of the local workforce centers:

Cecil County
Susquehanna Workforce Network
1275 W Pulaski Hwy
Elkton, MD 21921
(410) 996-0550
Harford County
  • Susquehanna Workforce Network
    2021-D Pulaski Hwy
    Havre de Grace, MD 21078
    (410) 272-5400
  • Susquehanna Workforce Network
    2 S Bond St
    Bel Air, MD 21014
    (410) 836-4603
Baltimore County
Baltimore County Office of Economic and Workforce Development
7930 Eastern Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 288-9050
Chester County, Pennsylvania
PA CareerLink – Chester County
479 Tomas Jones Way #500
Exton, PA 19341
(610) 280-1010

Veterans

As a veteran you have several avenues that may provide funding for the program. If you have GI Bill benefits left, we are an eligible training provider and the VA representative at the College can help you determine your eligibility. If you do not have GI Bill benefits left, other options may be the best choice for you. The Way Station at Perry Point and Alliance Group have funds that may be available to qualified veterans.

GI Bill
You will need a DD 214 and a letter of eligibility. A VA representative at the College will help you through the process.
Way Station at Perry Point
Contact the Susquehanna Workforce Center, located at 1275 West Pulaski Hwy, Elkton, MD 21921, at (410) 996-0550 for more information.
Alliance Group
Located at 234 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231, call (443) 519-9269 for more information.

Credit Unions

Many of the local credit unions view this program as a trade school and may approve a student loan for the tuition amount.

Other Grants

If you do not qualify for funding through one of the above organizations, the College may have grants that can help you. Speak to the Director of Transportation Training at your interview about available options.

Refund Policy

Refer to the catalog for the College's refund policy for non-credit students. Please note that the $145 cost for the DOT physical and drug screen is non-refundable.

Applying to the Program

You will need the following documents to apply to the program:

  • Valid driver's license
  • Three year driving record (not certified)

Documents you may need to apply:

  • Valid green card or permanent resident card
  • Change of address card if current address does not match your driver's license
  • DD 214
  • GI Bill letter of eligibility

To apply, first click the Apply Online button below and complete the Student CDL Application. Once you've completed and submitted the application, be sure to click the Upload Documents button below and submit the necessary documents. Once you have submitted all of the necessary documents, your interview can be scheduled.

After Applying

These are the next steps once you've applied online:

  1. Obtain the free CDL manual from the MVA. Become familiar with this material, it will help during permit training.
  2. Start getting finances in order. Decide whether you need to apply for a loan, call one of the agencies listed above, or be a private pay (check, credit card, or money order).
  3. Reach out to the Director of Transportation Training, Tina Durborow, to schedule an interview to go over your application and discuss funding. You can reach Tina by email at tdurborow@nullcecil.edu

After funding is confirmed and all paperwork is submitted, a physical and drug screen will be set up by Cecil College.* After passing the DOT, you will be ready to start class. The DOT drug screen will be scheduled after students obtain their permits.

If you have any questions and/or you are ready to schedule your interview, please contact us at (410) 287-1615 or cdl@nullcecil.edu.

Program Curriculum and Overview

CDL A

The goal of Tractor Trailer Driver Training at Cecil College is to prepare students for entry level driving positions in the commercial trucking industry. The curriculum is designed for persons who are already licensed as automobile drivers who want to secure their Class "A" Commercial Driver’s License. This content relates to the safe operation of a tractor and a semi-trailer combination.

The curriculum is designed for three hundred (300) hours of training in the classroom, on the simulator, on the range, and on the public streets and highways. Evaluations are conducted in all of these areas. Students must have an average of 80% or above in each of the areas of the course, pass the MVA skills test in a maximum of two attempts, and attend a minimum of 80% of the training to complete Tractor Trailer Driver Training successfully and receive a completion certificate. If, by mid-point of the program, a student is unable to operate the vehicle in a manner sufficient to safely begin road training on public streets and highways, the student shall be recommended for termination from Tractor Trailer Driver Training.

The curriculum is composed of four sections. Subjects in each section are not necessarily listed in order of coverage. Times allowed for each subject area may vary depending on the student's progress.

Classroom
Training covers vehicle systems, driving techniques, defensive driving, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, log books, vehicle inspection, map reading, and trip planning. texts, lectures, discussion, and audio-visuals are used. Classroom training is interspersed throughout the total course sequence.
Simulator
Training on a state-of-the-art simulator is incorporated into the program curriculum to provide skill training without exposing students to actual life-threatening situations. This protects the safety of the student, the equipment, and the general public.
Range
This area of training is for instruction, proficiency development, driving, and/or observing status on the school's off-highway driving and practice range. Students rotate turns during activities. Range activities include pre-trip inspection, coupling and uncoupling, all range maneuvers, and basic driving techniques including shifting and cornering. Usual truck/student ratio is 1 to 4.
Road

Training hours in this area are spent on the public roads, streets, and highways driving and/or observing others drive under the guidance of a qualified driver instructor using the College's road trucks. These trucks are crew cabs designed to comfortably and safely seat a student driver, an instructor, and 3 student observers. Students drive predetermined routes designed to be appropriate to their skill level and provide similar driving experiences for all students. Instructor/student ratio is 1 to 4. Each student typically receives a minimum of 200 miles Behind the Wheel, which is approximately 12 - 16 hours.*

*Although individual training is not provided, every attempt is made to adjust to student instructional needs within the confines of the program. Training hours and mileage are documented.

Topics Covered

  • Preparation for the Commercial Driver’s License Written Test (Learner’s Permit)
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
  • Hours of Service
  • Log Book Preparation
  • Pre-trip, Safety Inspections, and Preventative Maintenance
  • Vehicle Control Systems
  • Basic Vehicle Control
  • Shifting
  • Map Reading and Trip Planning
  • Emergency and Accident Procedures
  • Cornering
  • Visual Search
  • Hazard Perception
  • Communication
  • Speed and Space Management
  • DOT Safety Inspections
  • Safety and Defensive Driving
  • Extreme Driving Conditions
  • Skid Control and Recovery
  • Passing and Meeting other Vehicles
  • Emergency Maneuvers
  • Handling, Documentation, and Safety of Cargo
  • Sight Side Parallel Parking
  • Alley Docking
  • Offset Alley
  • Drop/Hook/Slide
  • Coupling/Uncoupling
  • Night Driving
  • Mountain Driving
  • Simulation Training
  • Long Haul Simulation Run

CDL B

The goal of Truck Driver Training at Cecil College is to prepare students for entry level driving positions in the commercial trucking industry. The curriculum is designed for persons who are already licensed as automobile drivers who want to secure their Class B Commercial Driver’s License. This license is required for persons to drive commercial trucks over 26,001 GVW, such as van delivery trucks, trash trucks, dump trucks, concrete trucks, and some oil delivery trucks, etc. This course is 13 days in length.

Topics Covered

  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
  • Hours of Service
  • Log Book Preparation
  • Pre-trip, Safety Inspections, and Preventative Maintenance
  • Vehicle Control Systems
  • Basic Vehicle Control
  • Shifting
  • Map Reading and Trip Planning
  • Emergency and Accident Procedures
  • Cornering
  • Visual Search
  • Hazard Perception
  • Communication
  • Speed and Space Management
  • DOT Safety Inspections
  • Safety and Defensive Driving
  • Passing and Meeting other Vehicles
  • Emergency Maneuvers
  • Handling, Documentation, and Safety of Cargo
  • Sight Side Parallel Parking
  • Alley Docking
  • Offset Alley

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a GED or high school diploma to take this program?
No, we do not require either of those to participate in the program. Some of the companies may require one or the other, but not all of them.
Can I take the program if I have a felony conviction?
Yes, you are eligible for the program as long as you can pass the DOT physical/drug screen and have a valid driver's license with less than 3 points. Depending on the nature of the conviction, some companies will not be able to hire while others will still consider hiring.