Commercial Driver’s License – Westmoreland County Weekend

Whether your education has stalled at another school, or you’re looking to start your training, Penn Commercial’s CDL Commercial Driver’s License program gets you on the road to success… in just a few weeks! Classes are in-person, behind the wheel of a 10-speed International truck. This is not a virtual program. We do not use simulators.

Washington, PA’s top Commercial Driver’s License school is proud to serve students from Westmoreland County! Behind-the-wheel training will take place at a site convenient for students in the area, including Greensburg, Monessen, Belle Vernon, Jeannette, Irwin, Mt. Pleasant, and surrounding communities. Training begins with four days of classroom instruction — focused on permit preparation and safety — at Penn Commercial in Washington, PA. Classroom attendance in Washington is only required for the initial four days.

We’ll instruct you on what is required to take the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License practical examinations for Class “A” commercial vehicle with air brake restriction lifted, automatic restriction lifted, and tanker endorsement. Truck driver training begins on our skills pad and then on the road in real-world conditions with an emphasis on safe driving techniques. Our students will drive on highways, inner-city areas, and rural-road environments.

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.

Weekend Schedule. The Westmoreland weekend option is 11 weeks, with 200 hours of training; the catalog lists the CDL weekend schedule as Saturday and Sunday 8:00 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. 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 (weekend) cohort (12/2023 - 11/2024): graduation rate 90% (18 of 20); employment rate 83% (15 of 18). Licensure examination pass rate: 100% (65 of 65 graduates taking the exam passed). These are program-level rates for the school’s CDL weekend schedule, not separate rates for the Westmoreland County 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.

Transportation options for Westmoreland County students. We offer transportation support for students from Westmoreland County; however, service is contingent upon enrollment. In order for a transportation option to be activated, at least four students from the Westmoreland area must be enrolled in the same class cohort. If this condition is not met, transportation may not be available. While classroom attendance in Washington is required only during the first four days of the program, all students, regardless of transportation arrangements, are expected to return to campus for their third-party testing and potential skills pad practice.