Commercial Driving – Class A Tractor Trailer is a Certificate program offered by Advanced Technology Institute in Norfolk, VA. The program takes 6–12 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $6,640.
Program Overview
The Commercial Driving-Class A Tractor Trailer certificate program is designed to prepare students to meet the needs of the highway cargo industry. The classroom module prepares students for the written portion of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Examination, provides information on driving safety, substance abuse, transportation of hazardous materials, trip planning, vehicle maintenance, and operational procedures. Students develop proficiency in backing, parking, and shifting tractor-trailer vehicles during the driving module. Graduates of this program will have met the Department of Motor Vehicle's educational requirements in order to qualify to take the Class A CDL Exam. ATI will support a student through three attempts to earn their Class A CDL Driver's License.
Commercial Driving programs are taught at the additional location, 994 Scott Street, Norfolk, VA.
What sets this Program apart
Commercial Driving programs are taught at the additional location, 994 Scott Street, Norfolk, VA. This 10,000 square feet location includes two classrooms, a break room, large shop area, a warehouse area, and instructor office space. The site also has a parking lot large enough to maneuver four tractor-trailer trucks simultaneously. The range segments of Commercial Driving Programs are limited to eight students on the yard per instructor. The road segments of Commercial Driving Programs are limited to four students in the cab with an instructor. ATI will support a student through three attempts to earn their Class A CDL Driver's License.
Recognized for opportunity. In 2025, Advanced Technology Institute was named an Opportunity College by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education.
Employers come to you. A Program Advisory Committee of local employers helps keep ATI's curriculum current, and employers recruit on campus year-round — through hiring events and ATI's annual Career Fair — so you can connect with them before you graduate.
FMCSA-approved training. ATI's Commercial Driving program is FMCSA-approved entry-level driver training (ELDT), taught at ATI's Norfolk facility with a maximum of four students per truck. You train on an unrestricted, manual-transmission Class A vehicle, prepare for the DMV permit and road test with up to three attempts included, and can start on day, evening, or weekend cohorts that begin every three weeks. The program is also SkillBridge-approved for service members within 180 days of separation.
Admission Requirements and Process
Training programs at Advanced Technology Institute are open to individuals who have satisfied the admissions requirements. To apply for admission, applicants should contact Advanced Technology Institute to arrange a personal interview and tour of the school. Applicants are under no obligation until they complete the admissions interview, enrollment agreement, and pay their enrollment deposit.
General Requirements
- Personal Admissions InterviewAll new applicants must complete a Personal Admissions Interview.
- Application and Enrollment AgreementAll new applicants must complete and submit an Application for Admission and an Enrollment Agreement.
- High School Diploma or GEDProvide a U.S. high school diploma, a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or completion of homeschool…
- Wonderlic Admissions AssessmentAchieve acceptable scores on the Admissions Assessment(s). Advanced Technology Institute uses the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). The minimum acceptable score on the exam…
- Background CheckAll applicants must undergo a preliminary background check. Any applicant with a poor driving record or prior criminal conviction may experience denial of admission.
- Drug/Alcohol ScreeningAs a condition of acceptance, Advanced Technology Institute students may be required to provide evidence of passing a current drug/alcohol screening test.
- Foreign Credential EvaluationApplicants who attended secondary school outside of the United States must provide a credential evaluation from a NACES member organization, and those educated in a language other…
- Minimum Age 18Commercial Driving students must be at least 18 years old.
- Valid Driver's LicenseCommercial Driving students must possess a valid driver's license.
- DOT Physical ExaminationCommercial Driving students must pass and provide a copy of the DOT physical examination, and have no physical disabilities that may disqualify a person under the Federal Motor…
- Clean Driving RecordCommercial Driving students must have no DUI / DWI in the last 5 years and no more than 3 negative points on their Motor Vehicle Report.
Application Process
- 1Contact AdmissionsTo apply for admission, contact Advanced Technology Institute to arrange a personal interview and tour of the school.
- 2Complete Your Admissions InterviewMeet with an admissions representative for your Personal Admissions Interview. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their intentions with their family and to have them visit the school.
- 3Pass the Admissions AssessmentAchieve a passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE); the minimum acceptable score is 11.
- 4Tour the FacilityTour the campus shops and meet the instructors. Walk-ins are welcome, but scheduling a visit in advance will likely speed up the process.
- 5Submit Your Application and Enrollment AgreementComplete and submit an Application for Admission and an Enrollment Agreement, and provide proof of high school completion before classes start.
- 6Complete Your FAFSA and Financial Aid ApplicationsBefore beginning classes, each student must complete the required Financial Aid applications and/or complete all timely obligations of a Tuition Payment Plan.FAFSA Code for Commercial Driving Facility: 031275Fill Out the FAFSA
- 7Start ClassesOnce all required documentation is received and your enrollment is complete, begin classes on your scheduled start date.
Program Schedule
Students attend class four (4) or six (6) days per week based on schedule selection. Night and Weekend schedules are available. Program length is 6 weeks or 12 weeks. At the successful completion of the program, the student will receive a certificate of completion.
Our start dates are as follows:
- August 17, 2026
- September 8, 2026
- September 28, 2026
- October 19, 2026
- November 9, 2026
- November 30, 2026
- December 28, 2026
- November 09th, 2026
- November 30th, 2026
- December 28th, 2026
- January 19th, 2027
- February 08th, 2027
- March 01st, 2027
- March 22nd, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Cost of Attendance
The Commercial Driving – Class A Tractor Trailer program is approximately 6–12 weeks in length and comprises 8 semester credit hours. Program costs are as follows:
- Tuition: $6,640
- Technology Fee: $160
- Total Program Cost: $6,800
- Application Fee: $50 (one-time, non-refundable fee, waived for veterans and active duty)
When required, use of textbooks for the time needed to complete courses is provided at no cost. Two ATI school uniform shirts, one jacket, one hat, and one pair of safety glasses are provided to all students at no additional charge. In addition to the tuition and fees costs, the approximate cost of safety shoes and extra uniform shirts is approximately $180 for all programs. Students who are receiving benefits under the Veteran's Administration or Military Tuition Assistance programs are charged per credit hour.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to help qualified students pay for their education. Advanced Technology Institute offers many financial aid options to help students and their families determine the best way to pay for an education. Sources of financial aid include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan
- Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill educational benefits
- Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits
- Military Tuition Assistance
- Advanced Technology Institute Scholarships
- Private loan program serviced by Tuition Options
- State Aid administered under the state's Employment Commission or Vocational Rehabilitation
- Employer Assistance
- Benefits funded through the U.S. Department of Labor via the local Hampton Roads Workforce Council
Advanced Technology Institute students may make monthly in-school payments to the Institute. The in-school payments may reduce the amount of money students borrow and must repay after they graduate or withdraw.
Total program tuition is $6,640 (tuition only; the technology fee and application fee are billed separately).
Curriculum
The Commercial Driving – Class A Tractor Trailer program program consists of 4 courses totaling 216 clock hours and 8 semester credit hours:
The required courses below are from Advanced Technology Institute's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
The Commercial Driving – Class A Tractor Trailer program prepares graduates for entry-level employment as a professional Class A driver. Building on the program's coursework, graduates pursue roles such as:
- Class A Tractor-Trailer Driver
- Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver
- Regional CDL-A Driver
- Local Delivery Driver
- Freight / Line-Haul Driver
Students choose to attend Advanced Technology Institute because they want to gain the required skills necessary for entry into fast-growing job fields. Among those necessary skills is the ability to prepare for and conduct a job search. Advanced Technology Institute works with each student every step of the way as graduation nears and students begin an employment search. Advanced Technology Institute's dedicated Career Services Advisors are ready to work one-on-one with students to:
- Review résumé
- Assist with interviewing techniques
- Discuss career choice
- Provide help in career/job-market research
- Assist with marketing the student's skills to potential employers
- Generate job leads and offer networking opportunities for employers and students
Career Services develops and maintains relationships with employers to determine hiring needs and to facilitate employment of students and employment of graduates in positions related to their fields of study. Career Services assists students by developing interview skills, résumé preparation, and guidance on how to conduct a successful job search.
Although graduates cannot be guaranteed employment or starting salary, Advanced Technology Institute has long been a source of qualified applicants for employers. Advanced Technology Institute graduates are often scheduled or referred for job interviews as employment openings occur. Although Career Services Advisors maintain contact with several employers to identify employment opportunities, students are also expected to participate actively in their employment search campaign and to assume ultimate responsibility for their employment.
ATI's commercial-driving advisory and hiring partners include Schneider, Melton, Givens Transportation, and Allan Myers.
What to expect as an Advanced Technology Institute student
As an Advanced Technology Institute student, you will train behind the wheel and on the range at ATI’s Commercial Driving facility in Norfolk, building the skills required to earn a Class A commercial driver’s license.
Instruction is delivered in focused five-week modules by experienced, industry-credentialed instructors. You will progress through the program with a cohort of classmates on a schedule built to develop real, demonstrable proficiency, with opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials along the way.
Beyond the classroom and shop, ATI's Career Services team works one-on-one with you as graduation approaches — reviewing your résumé, sharpening your interviewing skills, and connecting you with employer partners across Hampton Roads and beyond.
ATI is a Yellow Ribbon school and welcomes veterans and active-duty military. Furnished, apartment-style student housing is available near campus for students relocating to the Virginia Beach area, and ATI's WellConnect program offers students and their families 24/7 support at no cost.
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited institution means your education has met rigorous, independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
This program: Advanced Technology Institute is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC); ATI is licensed by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to teach truck driving.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Recognized by employers nationwide
- Credits earned toward a respected credential
