CDL schools in Sacramento offer local Class A truck training, Class B courses and school bus driver preparation. Compare registered training locations, published course lengths and tuition before you plan your permit and skills tests.
Entry-level trainingUse an FMCSA-registered provider for required ELDT
Permit waiting periodHold your CLP for at least 14 days before the skills test
Age rules18 for eligible intrastate work; 21 for interstate commerce
Local training example160 Driving Academy: 4-5 weeks, hybrid
Truck driving schools and bus training near Sacramento
Compare local programs below; the DMV issues your CDL after the required tests. The check line under each school links to its FMCSA registry search, checked October 27, 2026 for public enrollment, training type and absence of an In Review flag.
The school also lists Class B and passenger training. Its office page lists 2251 Florin Road, Suite 67; the registry lists Northgate Boulevard yards. Confirm your assigned yard. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A theory, range and road.
The school's website did not load when checked on October 27, 2026. Call to confirm the current course length, tuition and next start. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The published track covers Class A and B; an 80-hour refresher is listed separately. Ask for your course's complete tuition sheet. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school lists permit preparation, endorsements, trailer handling and road driving. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The catalog describes this course for adults with some truck driving experience. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school also lists Class B Bus Driver and Class B Truck Driver courses at 50 hours each, plus school bus and transit options. Admissions publishes regular starts, typically within 1-2 weeks after requirements are met. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
Class B Commercial Drivers License training is also listed. Check the Sacramento entry on the day or night calendar for the next cohort. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The registry lists a Sacramento yard at 5034 Joyce Lane. The school's published office is 300 Harding Blvd Suite 113, Roseville, CA 95678. Confirm the lesson location and separate theory provider. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A range and road only.
Class A includes 40 classroom and 120 field hours; Class B includes 40 classroom and 40 field hours. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school lists 10 public-road hours in each course and teaches on manual and automatic vehicles. Confirm promotional terms before paying. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school publishes pre-trip inspection and road-test preparation within its Class A packages. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school publishes individual instruction and a West Capitol Avenue satellite location. Ask which address your range and road sessions use. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
The school advertises daily theory starts. Its local registry entry lists range and road training only; ask which registered provider supplies and reports the online theory. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B range and road only.
The school describes automatic-transmission training, theory, simulator practice and individual public-road instruction. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A theory, range and road.
Employment-linked paid training for selected applicants. The training page gives minimums of 20 classroom and 20 driving hours; the current posting describes a longer program and accepts applications through November 20, 2026. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class B, passenger and school bus theory, range and road.
The school's website describes classroom lessons, vehicle inspections and practical driving. It does not publish course length or tuition on the page reviewed. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A and B theory, range and road.
A clock hour is 50 contact minutes. The school requires a CLP before enrollment; confirm current third-party charges. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class A theory, range and road.
Employment-linked instruction for selected applicants. The district advertises driver openings and requires orientation, medical clearance, fingerprint screening, drug testing and first aid certification. Request the next orientation date. Registry checked October 27, 2026: Class B, passenger and school bus theory, range and road.
Western Pacific Truck School's Sacramento location offers tractor-trailer instruction with published annual calendars for daytime and nighttime students.
Follow the California DMV CLP checklist. It includes a California Class C license, identity documents, medical requirements, an application fee and the required knowledge tests.
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Verify the training location
Search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry for the actual yard and your training type. Check that the location supplies theory, range and road instruction as needed, and check any notice shown on its record.
Truck driver employment and wages in the Sacramento metro
In May 2025, BLS estimated 10,960 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs (SOC 53-3032) in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area. Median wages were $29.24 per hour and $60,810 per year. The figures come from BLS OEWS metro data and describe employed drivers across the region.
These figures are a reference for comparing training expenses. They do not describe a particular carrier's starting offer. BLS defines the median as the point where half earn more and half earn less. When talking with a carrier, ask how paid miles or hours are counted, how often you would be home, and which experience requirements apply to the position.
Published CDL tuition and funding routes
TEOFT publishes a $3,500 ELDT course including equipment rental. 1 on 1 Truck Academy advertises a conditional $2,500 paid-in-full cash special; its 2026 catalog lists $7,250 standard tuition and $7,500 total charges. J&R's 2026 catalog lists $1,695 Standard tuition ($4,500 total) and $4,109.75 Advanced tuition ($7,000 total). Prices were checked October 27, 2026. Request a written total that separates tuition, testing and medical expenses.
Ask Sacramento Works about WIOA eligibility through a local Job Center before paying. Check FAFSA/Pell eligibility with the school; SETA's provider list marks several CDL programs as ineligible for Pell. Eligible veterans can check a specific program in the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Folsom Cordova Unified offers employment-linked paid school bus training without a training fee.
FMCSA's ELDT rules cover first-time Class A and Class B applicants, a Class B-to-A upgrade and certain first endorsements. Required training must come from a registered provider. Check the specific location and training type before paying, then confirm that your completed training appears in your federal record before your test.
Can I train for a CDL at 18?
California DMV allows eligible drivers ages 18-20 to drive commercially within California when the cargo does not originate outside the state. Interstate commerce and hazardous materials work require age 21. Ask a school about its own admission rules, then ask prospective employers about the kind of freight and routes they use.
How long does CDL school take around Sacramento?
160 Driving Academy's Sacramento page lists four to five weeks. 2nd Chanz Truckin publishes four to six weeks and 160 hours for Class A training. AAA Academy lists four weeks, 20 days and 150 clock hours. Ask how your permit status, attendance and test appointment affect your actual finish date.
Can I complete CDL training online?
Some local courses are hybrid. 160 Driving Academy publishes online classroom theory with a Sacramento training yard. FMCSA's licensing guide describes the required registered-provider training and in-vehicle skills test. Verify both theory and behind-the-wheel providers when they are different organizations, and ask who will report each completed part.
Are public or employer-paid CDL options available?
Folsom Cordova Unified publishes paid school bus driver training without a training fee. Rocklin Unified also advertises free training for new drivers. These routes focus on school buses and include screening requirements. Contact the transportation department about current selection and orientation dates, and ask which costs outside instruction you would still pay.