Truck Driving

The objective of the commercial truck driving program is to develop the skills and knowledge base to qualify students for entry level positions as drivers of over-the-road or local driving vehicles, through in-depth classroom training, coupled with preventative maintenance, range and road skills. No prior education or experience with trucks is required.

The curriculum consists of extensive classroom and lab instruction with practical hands-on training in all phases of the commercial truck driving area. Students may be trained on, work on, and drive tractor trailers, class 7–8 vehicles, flat bed trailers, box trailers, and various diesel components in the school’s labs, range and on the road. The program does not include training for automatic transmission vehicles. The program trains students for the Class A CDL, which allows drivers to operate combination vehicles with a combined weight of over 26,001 pounds. Students are prepared to sit for the General Knowledge and Air Brake exams for the CDL Class A permit and the three-part skills test for the Commercial Driving License. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a Diploma.

• Actual driving scenarios. Students gain pre-trip and on-the-road experience driving manual transmission trucks.
• Experienced instructors who bring decades of driving experience and guide students on safe driving techniques.
• ELDT certified. Rosedale Tech’s facility is an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) certified facility.
• Training equipment — an indoor driving simulator, an outdoor range for driving practice, and various manual tractors with trailers.
• DOT physical included. The cost of the DOT exam is included in tuition when students use Rosedale’s contracted certified medical examiner.

Since 2010, Rosedale Tech has been named a Best Place to Work in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Business Times; it is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and licensed by the Pennsylvania Board of Private Licensed Schools. In 2018, Rosedale Tech ranked 11th on Forbes’ list of top 25 trade schools.

To be accepted for admission, an applicant must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalent certificate. Applications are accepted from high school students who are expected to graduate; however, their graduation must be confirmed before entering the college. Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check.

Entrance exam. Applicants must successfully complete a recognized entrance exam, administered by a member of the staff, or present an acceptable SAT/ACT score. For Truck Driving applicants the passing score is 12 on the Wonderlic, or an SAT of 850 or ACT of 15.

For final acceptance, each applicant must submit an official final high school transcript or an official equivalent certificate/documentation and possess a valid driver’s license.

Truck driving applicants must meet FMCSA regulations regarding English language proficiency, physical and drug screening requirements for driver’s qualification, and have had their driver’s license for at least 1 year. They must also pass a final acceptance drug screening prior to starting the program; medical marijuana cards do not provide an exemption for drug testing. Students must meet the driver qualifications set forth by the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety and pass the physical examination requirements set forth by the Department of Transportation.

Transfer credits are accepted: students transferring from another post-secondary institution or the military should speak with the Director of Education, and official transcripts are required for review. Rosedale Tech also has articulation agreements with a number of high school career training centers (CTCs).

Class hours. Monday through Thursday, 7:30am – 3:30pm; in week 4, Monday through Thursday, 7:30am – 5:00pm.

Program length. The courses are taught in one 8-week term. The complete program consists of 248 clock hours and 9.5 semester credit hours. Truck Driving students must have a minimum of 97% attendance to complete the program and be eligible for testing, assessed on minutes absent from scheduled courses.

Start dates. Classes for the Truck Driving program start approximately every 5 weeks. Contact an admissions representative for the exact start date.

At the beginning of the CDL program, students who pass the CDL permit test move forward into the driving portion of the course. Upon completing the required hours of on-the-road training, students then take the CDL test.

Holidays and breaks. In 2026 the college observes M.L. King Day, Presidents Day, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, a summer break from 07/14/26 through 08/02/26, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and a Christmas break from 12/24/26 through 01/03/27. In 2027 there is a spring break from 03/20/27 through 03/28/27 and a summer break from 07/20/27 through 08/08/27. Due to how holidays fall, some semesters may have an additional week. The maximum time allowed to complete a program is 150% of its published length, measured in semester credit hours attempted.

Tuition and fees. Tuition is $4,760 for the 8-week program ($19.20 per clock hour). All programs carry a $40.00 application fee, paid with the application, and a $110.00 registration fee, paid on acceptance. Tuition and fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card.

Other costs. Lab fees total $780 and the uniform package is $150. The cost of the DOT physical is included in tuition when students use Rosedale’s contracted certified medical examiner. The student is responsible for the cost of the DOT permit test, for the DOT physical if they choose not to use the Rosedale service provider, and for any medical costs required to pass the DOT physical. If a student does not pass the DOT test in 3 attempts, they are responsible for the cost of a new permit. The student is also responsible for the cost of the CDL license and any additional endorsements, for additional testing after 3 failed license-test attempts (if eligible for continued testing), and for all fees of the return-to-duty process after a failed drug or alcohol screen. Rosedale Technical College does not charge for any additional training hours that may occur outside of normal program hours.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Many Rosedale Tech students qualify for some type of financial assistance. The college pairs accepted students with a financial aid coordinator to help customize a personalized financial aid plan that may include eligible grants, loans, and other awards, and will also assist with the application for federal financial aid. Rosedale Tech is proud to support members of the military community as they transition back to civilian life; its financial aid team includes members who are VA certified and can help military students navigate their military benefits for education.

Other aid. The Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) is a needs-based state program created for PA residents training in short-term programs for a career in one of Pennsylvania’s targeted (growth) industries. The college is also approved for veterans’ educational benefits and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation funding, and displaced workers may qualify for retraining under TRA/TAA programs — contact the college’s Financial Aid office for details.

Graduates of this program earn a diploma and have entry level career paths as local and over-the-road tractor-trailer drivers, delivery truck drivers, van drivers, dump truck drivers and drivers of other vehicles relating to the transportation industry. Depending on the endorsements students add to their CDL — such as hazardous materials, school bus or passenger vehicles, or tank vehicles — graduates may also pursue specialized CDL positions.

Graduates under the age of 21 are not permitted to drive outside of the state they are licensed in, which may limit employment opportunities until they are 21. Students that do not pass the CDL test can graduate if all other graduation requirements are met, but employment prospects for those without the CDL will not include opportunities available to those with a CDL license.

Outcomes. In the 2024–2025 rates reported to the PA State Board of Private Licensed Schools in September 2025, Truck Driving recorded a 76% graduation rate (13 of 17 starts), and 95% of 2023–24 graduates were placed in jobs.

Career services. Advice and instruction in resume preparation, job applications and interviews, and assistance in securing full-time and temporary employment, are provided through Rosedale Technical College’s career placement services. All current students and graduates are eligible for placement assistance throughout their careers. The Student Success Team connects students with employers through career fairs, mock interviews, employer presentations and company field trips, and Rosedale Tech works with over 1,800 regional employers. No guarantee of employment is made, nor are any promises implied regarding minimum starting salaries.

Training equipment. The Truck Driving program has an indoor driving simulator, an outdoor range for driving practice, and various manual tractors with trailers.

DOT physical and drug testing. Operating a commercial motor vehicle requires a DOT physical examination by a certified medical examiner. Students are subject to a DOT drug test and may also be subject to random, post-accident or reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing; refusal of a test is deemed a failure, and students who fail must complete the return-to-duty process to continue in the program.

English language proficiency. Training at Rosedale Tech is taught and evaluated only in English. Students must be able to converse with the public in English without interpreters or translation tools, understand highway signs, respond to law enforcement, and make accurate entries on reports and logs in English.

CDL exam eligibility. To be eligible to take the CDL driver’s exam, students must have an overall minimum score of 89% in the theory-based courses, average behind-the-wheel scores of 85% on-the-road, 80% range skills and 75% pre-trip, a 97% overall attendance participation rate and a cumulative QPA of 2.0. Depending on testing-site availability, a student may complete the course before taking the CDL driver’s exam. Rosedale trains students on vehicles with manual transmissions.

Schedule changes. Due to training hour requirements, in the event of unexpected closures or holidays students may be required to attend on a Friday or school holiday, and hours may change to accommodate testing appointments.

Graduation. To graduate, a student must pass all program courses, reach a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.0, maintain the 97% attendance requirement and complete any program-specific requirements.