With an expected growth rate of 9 percent between 2008 and 2018, the job outlook for truck drivers is favorable, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS classifies truck drivers into two basic categories according to the type of vehicle they drive: heavy versus light trucks. Heavy truck drivers, or tractor-trailer drivers, typically transport cargo farther distances (long-haul trucking). Light truck drivers usually do more local deliveries (also known as pick-up and delivery drivers). According to the latest available data (May 2009), Ohio heavy truck drivers earn a median hourly wage of $18.16. This equates to a median annual salary of $37,770. Ohio light truck drivers earn a median hourly wage of $12.92 (median annual salary of $26,880). The first step to becoming one of the 101,000+ truck drivers in Ohio is to earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a truck driving school in Ohio will prepare you to achieve this goal.
Truck driving schools in Ohio can be found state-wide with hotspots in Columbus and Cleveland, and in smaller areas such as Dixie Lima and Milton. Ohio truck driving schools offer the necessary education and training needed to gain your CDL. In order to obtain a CDL license in Ohio, you must be at least 18 years old (21 years old for interstate trucking), have a valid Ohio driver's license, pass a vision exam and meet minimum medical standards. CDL applicants must then pass a written knowledge exam and a skills test, which includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a basic control test, and an on-road driving test. Depending on the class of license and endorsements you need, other knowledge and skills tests may be required--for example, to drive a combination vehicle, a school bus, a tanker truck, a truck with air brakes or to transport passengers. To transport hazardous materials (Hazmat), a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check is also required.
To find a truck driving school in Ohio, check out the list of trucking schools below.
Aberdeen: Allied Training Systems
Address: 2471 US Rte 52, Aberdeen, Ohio 45101
Phone: 877-245-5320
Akron: Career Driving & Learning Center
Address: 1350 Kelly Ave, Akron, Ohio 44306
Phone: 330-785-9909
Brooklyn: Big Rig Truck Driving School
Address: 8800 Clinton Rd , Brooklyn, Ohio 44144
Phone: 330-456-4571
Canton: Big Rig Truck Driving School
Address: 2230 Shepler Church Ave SW, Canton, Ohio 44706
Phone: 330-456-4571
Cincinnati: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3254 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Phone: 937-725-9300
Cleveland: Ohio Technical College
Address: 1374 E 51st St, Cleveland, Ohio 44103
Phone: 216-881-1700
Columbia Station: Great Lakes Truck Driving School
Address: 27740 Royalton Rd, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028
Phone: 866-932-3436
Columbus: Associated Training Services
Address: 2323 Performance Pkwy, Columbus, Ohio 43207
Phone: 888-498-6162
Columbus: Roadmaster
Address: 4060 Perimeter Dr, Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: 614-351-1748
Dayton: Tri-State Semi Driver Training
Address: 1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, #170, Dayton, Ohio 45408
Phone: 877-910-7364
Euclid: Tri-C Cuyahoga Community College Truck Driver Training
Address: 23555 Euclid Ave, Euclid, Ohio 44117
Phone: 216-987-6000
Fremont: Terra Community College Truck Driver Training
Address: 2830 Napoleon Rd, Fremont, Ohio 43420
Phone: 419-334-8400
Galion: Crist CDL training center
Address: 8816 Harding Hwy E, Galion, Ohio 44833
Phone: 419-845-3558
Gnadenhutten: American Professional Truck Driving School
Address: 8334 State Route 36 SE , Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629
Phone: 740-254-9313
Groveport: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 6425 Alum Creek Dr, Groveport, Ohio 43125
Phone: 937-725-9300
Hamilton: Napier Truck Driver Training Inc
Address: 3113 Dixie Hwy, Hamilton, Ohio 45015
Phone: 513-755-3413
Lake Milton: TDDS Technical Institute
Address: 1688 N Pricetown Rd, SR 534, Lake Milton, Ohio 44429
Phone: 330-538-2216
Lebanon: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3825 Ohio 48, Lebanon, Ohio 45036
Phone: 513-932-5677
Lima: Apollo Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3325 Shawnee Rd, Lima, Ohio 45806
Phone: 419-998-2969
Medina: Hamrick School
Address: 1156 Medina Rd, Medina, Ohio 44256
Phone: 330-239-2229
Middletown: Tri-State Semi Driver Training
Address: 6690 Germantown Rd, Middletown, Ohio 45042
Phone: 800-860-7364
Mount Gilead: Road Professional Truck Driving School
Address: 6666 SR 95, Mount Gilead, Ohio 43338
Phone: 419-288-0098
New Lexington: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 5454 State Rte 37, New Lexington, Ohio 43764
Phone: 937-725-9300
Northwood: Trainco Inc Truck Driving Schools
Address: 2249 Tracy Rd, Northwood, Ohio 43619
Phone: 419-661-7000
Perrysburg: Trainco Inc Truck Driving Schools
Address: 26718 Oregon Rd, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551
Phone: 419-837-5730
Piketon: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 4235 US 23 S, Piketon, Ohio 45661
Phone: 937-725-9300
Pomeroy: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 42377 Pomeroy Pike, Pomeroy, Ohio 45769
Phone: 742-992-1880
Springfield: Clark State Community College
Address: PO Box 570, Springfield, Ohio 45501
Phone: 937-325-0691
Trenton: Millis Training Institute
Address: 1982 Jackson Rd, Trenton, Ohio 45011
Phone: 800-937-0880
West Unity: HR Career Development
Address: 315 S Main St, West Unity, Ohio 43570
Phone: 888-750-6200
Wilmington: Southern State Community College
Address: 1850 Davids Dr, Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: 937-393-3431
Wilmington: Truck Driving Academy
Address: 3321 Airborne Rd, Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone: 937-725-9300
Do you run a trucking school in Ohio? If so, contact us to be listed here.