Commercial Driver’s License – Automatic Transmission

Train in a real automatic-transmission truck and complete Class A CDL training in as little as five weeks. Build the driving, backing, inspection, and safety skills needed to prepare for the Pennsylvania Class A CDL skills examination without the added complexity of learning to shift a manual transmission.

Penn Commercial’s automatic-transmission truck allows students to focus on vehicle control, backing maneuvers, road awareness, and CDL skills without the added complexity of clutching and shifting. Many commercial trucking fleets now operate automatic-transmission trucks, making automatic CDL training a practical option for many new drivers entering the industry. Students still learn the inspections, backing maneuvers, safety procedures, and road skills needed to prepare for the Pennsylvania Class A CDL skills examination.

Students who complete their CDL skills test in an automatic-transmission truck earn a Class A CDL with an automatic transmission restriction. Penn Commercial also offers manual-transmission CDL training for students who want the flexibility to operate both manual and automatic commercial vehicles.

Benefits of automatic CDL training.

• Train on a real automatic-transmission truck
• Complete training in as little as five weeks
• Daytime classes
• FMCSA-approved ELDT provider
• Career Services and job-placement assistance
• Convenient Washington, Pennsylvania campus

Why Penn Commercial?

• FMCSA-approved ELDT provider
• Experienced CDL instructors with real-world driving experience
• Hands-on training in a real commercial truck
• Small class sizes for personalized instruction
• Providing career-focused education since 1929

Penn Commercial welcomes prospective students interested in its training programs. Prior to signing an enrollment agreement, all applicants are required to review the comprehensive School Catalog and consumer disclosure information. Admission to any of Penn Commercial’s programs requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, and you’ll be asked to sign a release form to obtain your official transcripts so we can confirm that this has been achieved.

Applicants may sign an enrollment agreement and receive conditional acceptance prior to submitting all required documentation. However, enrollment is not complete, and classes cannot commence until all admission requirements, including proof of high school graduation or equivalency, have been fulfilled. High school seniors who submit applications prior to graduation and meet all other admission criteria will be conditionally accepted.

CDL admission requirements. To be considered for admission to the CDL program, applications must include the following: valid driver’s license; PA Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Record (MVR); DOT physical examination (meeting physician standards); negative drug test results; and agreement to random drug testing throughout the program. A commercial learner's permit is not a prerequisite for admission. CDL students must be able to read, write and be proficient in the English language.

Day Schedule. A daytime schedule is currently available; the catalog lists the CDL day schedule as Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

The Commercial Driver's License program operates on a rolling admissions basis. Program start dates are contingent upon sufficient student enrollment. The Commercial Driver’s License program does not follow the summer or holiday breaks listed in the school calendar.

2026 tuition and fees. The school’s 2026 Tuition and Fees Schedule lists one Commercial Driver’s License price for every CDL schedule (200 clock hours, 5/11/13 weeks, Award: Certificate); the program total is $7,795:

• Tuition: $7,095
• Books / supplies: $0
• Lab fee: $600
• Certification / licensure fees: included in tuition — the fees for the permit and third-party testing are included in the total cost of the program, up to three attempts for each test; if a student does not pass this testing within three attempts, they are responsible for the associated costs in order to progress through the program
• Application fee: $25 (paid with the application for admission)
• Registration fee: $75 (paid upon acceptance for admission)

Tuition and fees may be subject to increase with 60-days written notice.

What the fees cover. The application fee includes the cost of the entrance exam and the administrative fee to process applications; the registration fee includes the key fob, photo ID badge, high school transcript charges and overall matriculation; the lab fee/consumables covers lab supplies, equipment and maintenance, electronic library system, software licensing, campus internet and technology, and clinical rotation fees.

Financial aid. Because our CDL program is shorter than the minimum length required for federal financial aid, it is not eligible for FAFSA funding. However, Penn Commercial works with PA Forward to help qualified students explore loan options that can assist with the cost of training. Our Financial Aid team can help you understand your financing options. The school is also approved for the training of state rehabilitation students and veterans.

Veterans. Penn Commercial is approved for the training of veterans and will not impose any penalty on a covered individual because of the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Payment. For current students who make monthly payments, tuition is due by the second of every month; a twenty ($20) dollar late fee is applied to payments received after the due date. Tuition and fees may be subject to increase with 60-days written notice.

Living expenses. The school’s cost-of-attendance chart lists, per 9-month period (minimum): room and board $4,500 for a student living with a parent or $9,000 for a student not living with a parent; personal expenses $1,800; transportation $2,700. Program costs need to be added to these figures to calculate the cost of attendance.

Graduates of the Commercial Driver’s License Program are eligible to take the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License practical and written examinations for Class “A” commercial vehicle with tanker endorsement. You must be licensed to work in this field. Employment opportunities in multiple industries:

• Long-Haul / Over-the-Road Driver (OTR)
• Local Truck Driver
• Delivery Truck Driver
• Water Tanker Driver

The Federal Motor Carrier regulation Section 391.11 states that drivers under the age of 21 are only permitted to drive intrastate. In order to drive between states, all drivers must be 21 years of age or older.

Student achievement rates. As reported by Penn Commercial to ACCSC in the school’s 2025 Annual Report, for the Commercial Driver’s License (day/night) cohort (1/2024 - 12/2024): graduation rate 92% (47 of 51); employment rate 79% (37 of 47). Licensure examination pass rate: 100% (65 of 65 graduates taking the exam passed). These are program-level rates for the school’s CDL program, not separate rates for this schedule or location.

Who hires our grads. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Abel Express LLC, Camelback Resources, Chisler Brothers, Coca-Cola, Contractor Transport, Cowboy Industries, D&D Transport, DeBlasio Beverage, Knight Transportation, Old Dominion Freight Line, Pepsi Beverage Co., PGT Trucking, Schneider National, SYSCO Food Distribution, TransAm Trucking, Waste Management, Western Express and many others.

Training in an automatic truck. Students train in a real automatic-transmission truck, so they can focus on vehicle control, backing maneuvers, road awareness and CDL skills without the added complexity of clutching and shifting. They still learn vehicle inspections, backing maneuvers, road driving, safety procedures, and coupling and uncoupling; testing in an automatic truck earns a Class A CDL with an automatic transmission restriction (Restriction Code E). The program includes 200 hours of training and is taught in person at the school, with no online classes. This is a clock hour program, so attendance is mandatory; if a student misses class, makeup work is mandatory and is scheduled outside the regularly scheduled class day. During the first 40 hours of classroom instruction students prepare for the commercial learner's permit exam, and once they earn the permit they begin behind-the-wheel training in real commercial trucks, not simulators.

Orientation. All incoming students, and returning students who have been absent for six months or more, are required to attend orientation before classes start. During orientation you become acquainted with the campus, meet key administrative staff, instructors and fellow students, and learn about important policies and procedures. If you cannot attend the scheduled orientation, your admission representative can arrange an alternative date/time before classes start.

Attendance. All students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, including clinical and externship rotations, in a regular and punctual manner. Attendance is recorded in fifteen-minute increments and becomes part of the student's permanent academic record, and there is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence. Students who exceed attendance thresholds may be placed on attendance warning and probation, and a student is withdrawn after fourteen consecutive calendar days of non-attendance.

Class size. For the CDL program the student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1 in the classroom, 4:1 on the skills pad and 4:1 on the road, so there is adequate time for both theoretical learning and practical application.

Dress code and ID. Strict adherence to the dress code is mandatory in all classrooms, laboratories and clinical settings; each program's specific dress code is communicated during enrollment. Students must display their photo identification badge at all times on campus and at externship or clinical sites, and every student receives a personalized key fob to enter and exit the building.

Graduation. To graduate, students must complete all required coursework with a passing grade, accumulate the credits or clock hours required for their program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, complete 100% of any required externship or clinical hours, fulfill all financial obligations, complete the exit interview process if applicable, and adhere to their program's attendance policies.