What does the $150 application fee cover, and is it refundable?

It covers the cost of processing your application. The fee is non-refundable.

When do classes start?

Classes start every Monday, and enrollment is open. You can begin on the Monday that works best for you.

What is the schedule?

Classes follow our hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Do I need my CLP permit before enrolling?

Yes. You need your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) before starting class. You also need to pass a DOT physical exam and a drug screen.

How long does the program take?

The Class A Automatic program is 160 clock hours and the Class A Manual program is 163 clock hours. A clock hour is 50 minutes of instruction plus a 10 minute break. How many weeks that takes depends on your attendance schedule.

What is the refund policy?

You get a full refund if the school does not accept you, or if you cancel within 3 business days of signing the enrollment agreement. Cancel after the 3rd business day but before your first class and everything is refunded except the $150 application fee. After classes begin you receive a pro-rata refund through 40% of the program, and refunds are issued within 30 days. Once you are past 40% of the program, no refund is issued.

Do you help with jobs?

Yes. We offer a job board, resume and interview preparation, mentoring, and job referrals for graduates. We do not guarantee employment.

Do you offer payment plans or financial aid?

Call the school and ask about payment options before you apply. You will get a straight answer before you pay anything.

Orlando CDL school. Real trucks. Classes every Monday.

Earn your Class A CDL with 160 clock hours of training at a school licensed by the Florida Department of Education, License #13500.

Call now

Classes start every Monday.

Blue semi-truck with a white trailer driving on a highway

Licensed in Florida

Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education.

7,370 sq ft facility

Classroom areas plus a dedicated training yard with real trucks and trailers.

Open six days a week

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Classes start every Monday

Open enrollment, so you start when you are ready.

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About 18 Wheels CDL School

Our mission

We prepare people for real careers in commercial driving, with training that puts safety and professionalism first. A Class A CDL can be your path to steady work and financial independence.

Our vision

To become a trusted leader in CDL training and testing, known for changing lives through opportunity and education. Our graduates help keep America moving and connected.

Alena Kishko-Nogueira · Campus Director

Alena owns the school and runs it in Orlando.

Trucks with trailers parked in an industrial yard

Adult students during a classroom training session

Classroom space
Theory classes run inside our 7,370 sq ft facility of classroom and practical areas.
Training yard
A dedicated outdoor yard where you practice backing, docking, and coupling before driving in traffic.
Real trucks and trailers
You train hands-on with the same type of tractor-trailer equipment you will drive on the job.

Class A CDL programs and cost

Two Class A CDL programs, one decision: automatic or manual. Every cost is listed below so you can compare before you choose.

The $450 state CDL exam fee is paid separately and is not included in the total program cost. Choose the automatic program for simpler training, or the manual program for more job options.

Class A CDL (Automatic)

The simpler path to your Class A CDL, on automatic trucks.

160

clock hours

Theory hours: 40 · Practice hours: 120

Tuition: $2,900
Application fee: $150
Total program cost: $3,050
State exam fee: $450

Pre-trip and post-trip inspections
Straight-line, offset, and alley backing
Coupling and uncoupling trailers
Highway and urban road driving

You receive a diploma when you complete the program.

Both programs are aligned with FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements.

Ask about this program

Class A CDL (Manual)

More job options with full control of shifting.

163

clock hours

Theory hours: 40 · Practice hours: 123

Tuition: $3,800
Application fee: $150
Total program cost: $3,950
State exam fee: $450

Dedicated manual shifting training on public roads
How transmissions work, covered in theory
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections
Backing, docking, and full road training

You receive a diploma when you complete the program.

Both programs are aligned with FMCSA Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements.

Ask about this program

How it works

Five steps from your first call to your diploma.

Contact us and apply
Call or message us and we will answer your questions. When you are ready, apply with the $150 application fee, which is non-refundable.
Get your CLP, DOT physical, and drug screen
Before your first class you attend a mandatory orientation, and you need a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), a passed DOT physical exam, and a passed drug screen.
Theory and yard training
You start with 40 clock hours of theory in the classroom, then move to the training yard for hands-on work with real trucks.
Road training and evaluation
You drive on public roads with an instructor, practicing highway and city driving, turns, and speed management. Your training ends with a final road evaluation.
Diploma and career services
Complete all course requirements and you receive your diploma. Career services are there to help with your job search after graduation.

What you will learn

Both Class A programs cover the same three parts: theory in the classroom, behind-the-wheel training on the range, and behind-the-wheel training on public roads.

Theory

40 clock hours in the classroom covering the rules and knowledge every CDL driver needs.

Pre-trip, enroute, and post-trip inspections
Hours of service rules and logbooks
Hazard perception
Night driving and driving in extreme conditions
Drug and alcohol awareness
Trip planning, fatigue, and wellness

Behind-the-wheel range

Hands-on practice on the training range with real trucks and trailers.

Hands-on pre-trip inspections
Coupling and uncoupling trailers
Straight-line and offset backing
Alley docking
Parallel parking
Mirror use and vehicle control

Behind-the-wheel public road

Driving in real traffic with an instructor, from highways to city streets.

Highway and urban driving
Lane management and turns
Speed and space management
Skid control and emergency maneuvers
Night driving
Railroad crossings

Driver reading documents inside a truck cab

Requirements to enroll

Know these six requirements before you apply.

At least 18 years old
You must be 18 or older to enroll.
Legal presence in the United States
You must be a lawful resident of the United States and able to provide legal documentation.
CDL learner's permit (CLP)
You must hold your CLP before starting class.
DOT physical and drug screen
You must pass a DOT physical examination and a drug screening.
Social Security card and Florida driver's license
Bring a copy of your Social Security card and a valid Florida driver's license.
English proficiency
English proficiency is mandatory for the state examination.

English proficiency is a federal requirement for all CDL holders under 49 C.F.R. 391.11(b)(2), not a school policy.

Career services

Area employers post trucking job openings on our career board, and our network of professional and employer relationships can open doors. We help you get ready and refer you to openings, but the hiring decision is always the employer's.

Job board
A bulletin board with area trucking job openings.
Resume and interview preparation
Training in resume writing, employment applications, and interview preparation.
Employer network and mentoring
Relationships with professionals and employers who provide mentoring.
Job referrals
Referrals to job openings for graduates as openings become available.

18 Wheels CDL School does not guarantee employment for graduates.

Instructor and trainee reviewing paperwork beside a truck

Frequently asked questions

The Class A Automatic program costs $3,050 total and the Class A Manual program costs $3,950 total. Each total includes tuition plus the $150 application fee. The $450 state CDL exam fee is separate and not included in either total.

Contact

Talk to us. Classes start every Monday, and you get straight answers with no sales pitch.

Address

3220 37th St
Orlando, FL 32839

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Call the school

Call now

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