Commercial Driver’s License – Evening

Students will learn what is required to take the Commercial Driver’s License Class-A examination. Students will be provided with both classroom and practical driving experience in this program by learning maneuvering skills and driving skills of a commercial vehicle. This program prepares students with the maneuvers and driving skills necessary to take the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License examination for Class-A commercial vehicle with air brakes and tanker endorsement. Students will be prepared to enter the field in entry-level positions operating a Class-A commercial vehicle.

Our Commercial Driver’s License Training Program provides you with both classroom and practical driving experience to prepare you for a career in the trucking industry. Individualized training ensures focused attention, personalized feedback, and accelerated learning for each student. Truck driver training on our skills pad and on the road in real-world conditions with an emphasis on safe driving techniques.

Class-A License. This class of license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the towed vehicle is heavier than 10,000 pounds. This license will allow you to operate tractor-trailers (also known as semi, big rig or 18-wheeler), truck and trailer combinations, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.

Real trucks, no simulators. Students receive real hands-on training in the truck. We don’t use simulators like many other schools. Manual transmission training on highway, rural and intercity roads.

Approved ELDT training center. Our CDL program is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR) as an Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) course.

On-campus testing. Penn Commercial is approved by the PA Dept. of Transportation as a third-party CDL testing site. The fees for permit and third party testing are included in the total cost of the program, up to three attempts for each test.

What you get on your license. Class A general knowledge; tanker endorsement; automatic restriction lifted; air brake restriction lifted.

Class size. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1 in the classroom, 4:1 on the skills pad, and 4:1 on the road. Penn Commercial has three (3) commercial Class “A” vehicles and three (3) trailers.

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.

Evening Schedule. Weeks 1-5: Monday through Thursday 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Weeks 6-10: Monday through Thursday 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The evening program commences every seven weeks.

The Commercial Driver's License program operates on a rolling admissions basis. Program start dates are contingent upon sufficient student enrollment. For the most accurate information regarding projected start dates, please consult with the CDL Admissions Representative. 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 the following for this program (program total $7,795):

• Tuition: $7,095
• Lab fee: $600
• Application fee: $25
• Registration fee: $75

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; the graduation fee includes degree/diploma preparation and the ceremony.

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
• Heavy Equipment Hauling
• 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).

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.

Evening schedule. The evening CDL program takes 10 weeks: weeks 1-5 meet Monday through Thursday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and weeks 6-10 meet Monday through Thursday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, plus Saturday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. All schedule options complete 200 hours of training. 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.