How to Start a Truck Driving School

Our roadways are used every day to move products and supplies from one end of the country to the other. Truck drivers are responsible for making sure these deliveries arrive safely and on time. Operators require a specific set of skills and knowledge, as the safety of those they share the roadways with are in their hands. A truck driving school helps operators build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, providing classroom and hands on education. This is the first requirement for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a truck driving school by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Truck Driving School
  2. Form your Truck Driving School into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Truck Driving School for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Truck Driving School
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Truck Driving School
  7. Get Truck Driving School Insurance
  8. Define your Truck Driving School Brand
  9. Create your Truck Driving School Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your truck driving school. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Truck Driving School Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a truck driving school?

Opening a school of any kind does require a significant amount of starting capital. The following should be included in your initial budget:

  • Location – Your investment should have enough space for classrooms, as well as driving practice, which must be closed off from public traffic.
  • Catalog – Every CDL school is required to have informational materials that are distributed to applicants and students. Requirements vary by state and accreditation.
  • Educational Materials – In addition to your catalog, it’s a good idea to have a library, stocked with books and videos. This will assist students has they strive for higher learning. Visual aids, tools, and emergency equipment are also recommended. Your classrooms should also have A/V equipment, such as overhead projectors, chalkboards, and/or DVDs. Some schools choose to invest in training simulators. While this is a helpful tool, it should never replace the hands-on training one gets from driving an actual truck.
  • Business software – You will need to invest in software to help manage your business. Scheduling software will assist you in scheduling driving lessons. Accounting software will help keep your books in order. It is also important that your student’s records are kept accurately and safely, and can be accessed for students quickly when needed.
  • Trucks – To earn a reputation as a great driving school, you will need to keep your student to truck ratio low. This ensures each student receives the proper hands-on instruction and experience. While the vehicles don’t need to be brand new, it’s recommended that your school have well-maintained newer models.
  • Teacher – You will need at least one reliable and qualified instructor.
  • Advertising and marketing materials, including a website

Some school business owners report start-up capital requirements as low as $15,000, while others report spending upwards of $125,000.

What are the ongoing expenses for a truck driving school?

As indicated, it is recommended that you offer a PTDI-certified course, which will set you back almost $4,000. Additional costs include:

  • Payroll
  • Ongoing maintenance on your fleet of trucks
  • Cost for printed material, both educational and marketing/advertising
  • Overhead costs such as electric, phone, and Internet.
  • Supplies
  • Insurance

Who is the target market?

Your marketing efforts should be geared towards aspiring truck drivers across the country.

How does a truck driving school make money?

Your business will generate revenue from each student that signs up to complete your course.

How much can you charge customers?

The average tuition for a CDL school is $4,000 to $7,000. Prices vary based on region and reputation.

How much profit can a truck driving school make?

If you offer a 6 week class, with each class capped at 10 students, you will see 80 students per year. Use the standard tuition fee of $4,000 per student and you have generated $320,000 in revenue. If your ongoing expenses average $4,000 per month, you are still realizing a profit of $272,000.

How can you make your business more profitable?

As mentioned, your school will realize greater profits when you are able to offer a PTDI-certified course. In addition to a stronger reputation, the support PTDI offers will increase your school’s visibility. Once your school has built a strong reputation, many schools have found success offering franchise opportunities to other aspiring truck driving school owners. Many schools also offer continuing education programs and sell school-related products, such as hats and t-shirts.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your truck driving school is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your truck driving school were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a truck driving school business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A truck driving school business is generally run out of a place where the trucks can be stored and driven. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a truck driving school business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your truck driving school business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Commercial Driver’s License Requirements

It is important that your educators and curriculum meet all DMV requirements for commerical driver’s license education, which can be found here.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Truck Driving School needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Truck Driving School.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a truck driving school

Every business should be utilizing social media as part of their marketing strategy. This ensures you reach a larger audience, getting the word out to those you might not normally reach. Additionally, it is recommended that you advertise to trucking companies in your region, recruitment sites, and on truck driver forums.

How to keep customers coming back

Your reputation is based on word of mouth, and the recognition received through accreditation and certification. Aspiring truck drivers are investing a significant amount of money. They want to know they are getting the best possible education and have a clear shot at a job upon completion.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Have you spent years on the road, delivering goods from one location to another? Have you ever had the desire to share your knowledge and experience with those just starting their path in this career? Or, perhaps you’re feeling it is time for a change in career path, but you don’t want to leave the industry altogether? If so, opening a truck driving school may be exactly the change you are looking for.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a truck driving school?

Operating a truck driving school means managing many moving parts. Your students will require both classroom and hands-on training. The curriculum must remain up-to-date, so it is critical that teachers remain abreast of emerging trends and the latest industry news. Accurate records must be maintained on every level of the business. Financials should be kept in order and student records must be organized. Many schools offer assistance with job placement upon course completion. While it is not recommended that you guarantee a job to each graduating student, a job placement program should be a part of your business plan.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful truck driving school?

If you do not have experience working as a CDL driver, it is critical that you find someone who does have such experience and the ability to manage your business. Teachers are required to have a certain amount of experience, which varies by state. All driving instructors are also required to pass a state-approved driving instructor training class. Upon completion, they can apply for a CDL instructor license application. Check with your local DMV for more information.

Additionally, it is critical that you have strong business acumen, as managing a successful school requires a great deal of organization and the ability to make critical decisions with ease. Since interaction with students and staff is regular, strong communication skills are critical.

What is the growth potential for a truck driving school?

While there are several other methods available for transporting goods, trucks are still the preferred choice for many items. The demand for reliable and skilled truck drivers will always be high, making a truck driving school a worthy long-term investment. Entrepreneurs are urged to conduct thorough research ahead of time to ensure demand in the area is high.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a truck driving school?

Leaders in this industry offer the following advice, based on years in the field:

  • Keep accurate records of everything. Understanding your sales, ongoing expenses, etc. will help you reach your goals on time and under budget.
  • While some schools offer less training, it is recommended that your courses run for a minimum of 4-6 weeks of daily training.
  • Reevaluate your school regularly. Failing to do so will only hinder your progress.

Strive to offer a Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI)-certified course. This will add significant value to your school. Accreditation is also recommended.

How and when to build a team

Payroll costs will be your biggest expense. Therefore, many schools trim the fat wherever possible when it comes to the team they employ. While high payroll costs stand to cut into your profit, it is critical that you have enough staff to cover your needs. Each member of your team should be educated and have a significant amount of experience in the field. They must be good communicators and have the patience to answer the multitude of questions someone just starting out may have.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading