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Truck Driver Training

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Class A CDL Training

Commercial truck driving is one of the fastest growing jobs in the United States. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 100,000 more truck drivers will be needed by 2026. Having a Type A commercial driver's license (CDL) can put you in the driver's seat of a new, high paying career.

Sauk Valley Community College partners with Midwest Safe Driver to provide you with contemporary, high quality classroom and truck driving training. This training will prepare students for their driving permit and for their Class A (CDL) driving exam. Students must be 18 years old when class begins.

Instruction

Weeks 1-2

Training includes 40+ hours of classroom instruction to prepare students for the Type A driving permit exams and exam hours at a local DMV. Students must pass three written exams; general knowledge, combination, and air brakes to earn their Type A driving permit. Students will also receive instruction in logbooks, map reading, and pre-trip inspection. All classroom instruction occurs at SVCC in room 1M24 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Once the student receives their permit, they will take a required drug screen.

Weeks 2-5

Training includes 120+ hours of behind-the-wheel training in a 10-speed manual transmision or an automatic tractor-trailer and exam time at a local DMV. This training prepares students for the Class A CDL driving exam. Students must pass three exams: pre-trip inspection, yard skills, and road skills to earn their Class A CDL. Truck driving training will be held 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday in SVCC's East Parking Lot.

2025 CDL Class A Dates

(Class dates may be adjusted due to weather and truck maintenance.)

Cost

Program tuition is $5,148. The tuition includes 160 hours of training, drug screen, and the cost of the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. Students are required to pay out of pocket for the Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) $20 and the cost of the permit/license $50. Students will be enrolled into the 12-credit hour Commercial Driver's License Certificate Program at SVCC. Students are guaranteed a minimum of 160 hours of training. If students go over 180 hours, there may be an additional hourly rate required. Students who miss two scheduled class days or 16 training hours without justified cause may be dismissed from the program.

Class A CDL Training - Night Class

The Class A CDL Night Class program hours will run 8 weeks, Monday - Thursday; 5:00 - 9:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be two classes held on Fridays. The Friday classes will be held during daytime hours (7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) so the student is able to meet the 160-hour training requirement and earn daytime driving experience. The Secretary of State driving exam will be scheduled once the student completes their 160 training hours. The exam will be during daytime hours.

Instruction

Weeks 1-2

Training includes 40+ hours of classroom instruction to prepare students for the Type A driving permit exams and exam hours at a local DMV. Students must pass three written exams; general knowledge, combination, and air brakes to earn their Type A driving permit. Students will also receive instruction in logbooks, map reading, and pre-trip inspection. All classroom instruction occurs at SVCC in room 1M24 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Once the student receives their permit, they will take a required drug screen.

Weeks 3-8

Training includes 120+ hours of behind-the-wheel training in a 10-speed manual transmision or an automatic tractor-trailer and exam time at a local DMV. This training prepares students for the Class A CDL driving exam. Students must pass three exams: pre-trip inspection, yard skills, and road skills to earn their Class A CDL. Truck driving training will be held 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday and two Fridays; 7:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in SVCC's East Parking Lot.

2025 CDL Class A - Night Class Dates

(Class dates may be adjusted due to weather and truck maintenance.)

Cost

Program tuition is $5,148. The tuition includes 160 hours of training, drug screen, and the cost of the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. Students are required to pay out of pocket for the Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) $20 and the cost of the permit/license $50. Students will be enrolled into the 12-credit hour Commercial Driver's License Certificate Program at SVCC. Students are guaranteed a minimum of 160 hours of training. If students go over 180 hours, there may be an additional hourly rate required. Students who miss two scheduled class days or 16 training hours without justified cause may be dismissed from the program.

Class B CDL Training

Experience high-quality Class B CDL training at Sauk Valley Community College. Class B CDL training is widely seen as an amazing entry point and helps prospective drivers break into the trucking industry. Class B CDL training allows you to drive a single or double axle dump truck, garbage truck, snow plow, utility truck or any type of truck that doesn't pull a trailer over 10,000 pounds. The straight truck would be 26,001 pounds or more that requires a CDL. Companies that may be interested in sending employees would be; landscaping, tree removal, public works departments, farm operations, highway departments just to name a few. Students must be 18 years old when class begins.

Instruction

Week 1

Training includes 40 hours in the classroom going over the rules of the road to prepare students to pass two written exams: general knowledge and air brakes. Once the student receives their permit, they will take a drug screen. All classroom instruction occurs at SVCC in room 1M24 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Once the student receives their permit, they will take a required drug screen.

Weeks 2-4

Training includes 120 hours behind the wheel training of an automatic class B vehicle. This training prepares students for the Class B (CDL) driving exam. Students must pass three exams: pre-trip inspection, yard skills, and road skills to earn their Class B CDL. Truck driving training will begin at 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday in SVCC's East Parking Lot.

 

2025 CDL Class B Dates

(Class dates may be adjusted due to weather and truck maintenance.)

Cost

Tuition for this program is $2,775 and includes 160 hours of training, drug screen, and Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. Students will be required to pay out of pocket for the Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) $20 and the cost of permit/license ($50). Students are guaranteed a minimum of 160 hours of training. If students go over 180 hours, there may be an additional hourly rate required. Students who miss two scheduled class days or 16 training hours without justified cause may be dismissed from the program.

The Class B CDL program qualifies for the Non-Credit Strategies At Work Grant from Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). The grant funds will be used to reduce the cost of the student's tuition.

 

Contact Information

Brenda Helms Headshot

Brenda Helms will provide you with an orientation to the truck-driving program, payment options, and answer any of your questions before you enroll. There are grant and scholarship opportunities to help off-set tuition costs. Contact Brenda today at 815-835-6212 or brenda.helms@svcc.edu!