Getting a CDL in Vermont follows the federal playbook used everywhere: you need entry-level driver training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, a commercial learner's permit held at least 14 days, a DOT medical card, and passing knowledge and skills tests through the state licensing agency. You must be 18 for intrastate driving and 21 for interstate or hazmat work. In Vermont, the Class A CDL license fee runs $60 and the CLP costs $15 (2026 figures; confirm with the state DMV before budgeting). Typical CDL school tuition nationally falls between $3,000 and $7,000, and Roadmaster Drivers School and 160 Driving Academy are listed below with verified program links. BLS May 2025 data puts 3,560 heavy-truck drivers in Vermont at a $60,830 median annual wage. Our contrarian take: ignore school marketing and FMCSA does not approve schools, so verify every provider on the Training Provider Registry yourself, compare behind-the-wheel hours (not just tuition), and read the fine print on any company-sponsored training contract before you sign.
CDL Training in Vermont: Schools, Costs, and Getting Licensed
CDL training in Vermont follows the same federal playbook as everywhere else, and that is the first thing to understand. The license on your wallet is issued by the state, but the training rules, the age floors, and the permit waiting periods are federal. No school in Vermont can waive them, speed them up, or sell you a shortcut around them.
Which CDL Schools Operate in Vermont?
Below are the CDL training providers we list for Vermont, in our editors' order. National providers operate in many states, so confirm the exact Vermont location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before paying anything, because registry coverage is per location, not per brand. We list programs with verified links rather than guessing at local pages.
1 Roadmaster Drivers School
National Class A CDL school network. Training runs about 180 hours across classroom and behind-the-wheel work including pre-trip inspection, backing, and trip planning. The school advertises financial assistance and carrier tuition reimbursement of $100 to $250 per month through partner carriers. Confirm exact terms in writing, and verify the specific location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before enrolling.
- Location
- Multiple locations
- Program type
- National provider
- Website
- Visit program site
- Program link verified
- Confirm this exact location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry
- Get price, hours, and schedule in writing before enrolling
2 160 Driving Academy
National CDL school network operating in many states. The standard program is 160 hours, roughly 40 classroom and 120 behind the wheel, with full-time completion in about four weeks at some locations. Financing and company sponsorship options are advertised. Get any repayment terms in writing, and verify the specific location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
- Location
- Multiple locations
- Program type
- National provider
- Website
- Visit program site
- Program link verified
- Confirm this exact location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry
- Get price, hours, and schedule in writing before enrolling
We could not verify a standalone in-state school URL for Vermont that met our linking standard, so we list national providers with verified links above rather than guessing at local program pages. That does not mean Vermont lacks schools. It means you should find them the reliable way: search the FMCSA Training Provider Registry for your city, check your state workforce agency's approved training list, and call the community colleges nearest you, since many run CDL programs without much of a web presence. Neighboring states often have strong options within driving distance too.
A note on scores: we do not publish invented school scores. Price, hours, schedule, and format change often and vary by location, so they are not listed here; get them in writing from each school and compare the written sheets side by side.
How Do You Choose Between These Programs?
Use the same three checks for every school on this page. Verify the exact location on the Training Provider Registry, compare behind-the-wheel hours and total written cost instead of headline tuition, and read the funding contract before signing. The school that answers clearly usually beats the one with the glossiest brochure.
Verify the registry listing
Search the exact school location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. If it is not listed there, its training cannot satisfy the federal requirement, no matter what the brochure says.
Compare hours and total cost
Ask for behind-the-wheel hours, not just total clock hours, and a written cost sheet for your exact class, transmission, and start date. Thin road time plus a cheap price is the most expensive combination.
Read the funding contract
Grants, VA benefits, and company-sponsored training each have terms that decide their real value. Read repayment terms, service periods, and exit terms before you sign anything.
The nicest website in Vermont does not equal the best training. Ask every school the same five questions: total written cost for my exact class and schedule, behind-the-wheel hours (not total clock hours), the student-to-truck ratio on the range, where recent graduates actually got hired, and whether the exact location is on the Training Provider Registry. The school that answers clearly usually beats the school with the glossiest brochure.
How Much Does CDL Training Cost in Vermont?
There is no single price for CDL school in Vermont. Nationally, typical Class A tuition runs $3,000 to $7,000 depending on class, hours, transmission, and school type. On top of tuition, budget $60 for the license, $15 for the CLP, $75 to $150 for the DOT medical exam, plus endorsement and HazMat fees.
Providers price by license class, hours, transmission type, location, and what is bundled into the quote. Third-party 2026 figures put typical school tuition between $3,000 and $7,000. Community colleges tend to land at the low end per hour of instruction; private schools charge more but often run faster full-time schedules.
Tuition is not the whole budget. Build your number from every line item: school charges (tuition, registration, books, range time, retest fees), licensing steps, the DOT medical exam at $75 to $150, daily travel or lodging if the school is outside commuting range, lost wages while you train, and financing costs if you borrow. Some schools publish complete prices and others split out fees, which is why a written cost sheet for your exact start date is non-negotiable.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class A CDL license fee | $60 |
| Commercial learner's permit (CLP) | $15 |
| Endorsement fees (each) | Typically $1 to $48 by state |
| HazMat TSA background check | About $86 to $90 (federal) |
| DOT medical exam | $75 to $150 (paid to the provider) |
Funding can change the math completely. Workforce grants, state vocational rehabilitation money, and VA education benefits at approved programs may cover some or all costs. Company-sponsored training can mean $0 out of pocket on day one, but you are trading tuition for a work commitment, and the repayment terms decide whether that trade is fair. Compare the full self-pay budget against every funding route before you commit.
What Are the CDL Requirements in Vermont?
The core CDL requirements in Vermont are federal: you must be 18 for intrastate driving and 21 for interstate or hazmat, complete entry-level driver training with a registry-listed provider, hold your CLP at least 14 days, carry a current DOT medical card, and pass your state's knowledge and skills tests.
- Age: 18 for intrastate commercial driving, 21 for interstate driving and for hazmat, in every state.
- Entry-level driver training (ELDT): first-time Class A, first-time Class B, Class B to A upgrades, and first-time Passenger, School Bus, or HazMat endorsements require training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. HazMat requires theory only; P and S require theory plus behind-the-wheel.
- Commercial learner's permit: you must hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test.
- Medical: a current DOT medical examiner's certificate is required before the state will issue the CLP or license.
- Testing: state knowledge tests plus a three-part skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving). Testing in an automatic can add an E restriction blocking manual-transmission trucks.
Two warnings that matter more than anything else on this page. First, the FMCSA does not approve or rank CDL schools. Providers self-certify to appear on the registry, and any school calling itself FMCSA approved is either confused or dishonest. Second, federal registration and state authorization of training schools are separate things, so check both: the Training Provider Registry for the federal side and the state agency that regulates private career schools for the state side.
How Much Do Truck Drivers Make in Vermont?
BLS May 2025 puts heavy and tractor-trailer drivers in Vermont at a $60,830 median annual wage, covering 3,560 drivers across all experience levels and employer types. That is a market anchor, not a starting salary promise. Our 2026 graduate survey found a $52,000 first-year median rising to $68,000 with three or more years.
Remember what the BLS figure is and is not: it covers wage and salary workers only, so owner-operators are excluded; it blends all experience levels and employers; and the percentiles describe the wage distribution, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay in trucking is often calculated by the mile, the hour, the load, or a mix, plus bonuses that vary by employer and cargo.
| Measure | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,900 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,830 |
| 90th percentile | $74,700 |
| Estimated employment | 3,560 drivers |
Nationally, the BLS median is $58,640, so Vermont sits above that mark, and endorsements move the needle fastest: HazMat and Tanker holders are the most in-demand in hiring, because extra testing keeps the qualified pool small. If you want the full national picture, see our 2026 truck driver salary guide.
You will hear that trucking has a driver shortage. What it has is a retention problem: churn at large truckload carriers is brutally high because the lifestyle grinds people down. Choose a carrier and a route type that fits your life, local, regional, dedicated, or over-the-road, not just the highest advertised starting pay. The best-paying job you quit in six months pays less than the decent one you keep.
Which Trucking Companies Hire in Vermont?
These are major carriers with terminals, hiring lanes, or headquarters operations connected to Vermont. Compare them on home time, route type, training pay, and benefits rather than billboard promises. Company-sponsored training programs follow the same federal registry rule as every other school.
- FedEx Freight
- Schneider
- A. Duie Pyle
- XPO Logistics
What Is Different About CDL Training in Vermont?
Vermont charges $60 for the Class A license. It is a small market; most long-haul freight connects through New England regional networks.
State details change: fees get adjusted, testing vendors rotate, and workforce grant programs open and close. Treat the figures on this page as a starting budget, then confirm the current numbers with the Vermont DMV or licensing agency and with each school's written cost sheet before you spend anything.
Where Can You Verify All of This?
Two sources outrank everything else on this page. The FMCSA Training Provider Registry confirms whether a school's exact location can legally train you. Your state's driver licensing agency confirms current fees, forms, and testing rules. Check both before you spend anything.
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry — search the exact school location; providers self-certify, and the FMCSA does not approve schools.
- Vermont driver licensing agency (DMV) — confirm current license and CLP fees, forms, and testing rules with the state before budgeting.
Frequently Asked Questions About CDL Training in Vermont
How much does CDL training cost in Vermont?
Tuition itself typically runs $3,000 to $7,000 nationally depending on class, hours, transmission, and school type; community colleges usually charge the least per hour of instruction. On top of tuition, budget $60 for the Class A license fee and $15 for the CLP in Vermont, plus $75 to $150 for the DOT medical exam, $1 to $48 per endorsement, and about $86 to $90 for the TSA background check if you add HazMat. Always get a written cost sheet that covers the exact class, transmission, schedule, and start date before you compare two schools.
How old do you have to be to get a CDL in Vermont?
Federal rules set the floor everywhere: 18 for intrastate commercial driving and 21 for interstate driving or hauling hazmat. That is not a Vermont quirk; no state can go lower. If you are 18 to 20, you can train and drive within the state, but most over-the-road carriers hire at 21, so plan your first job accordingly.
How long does CDL training take in Vermont?
Full-time Class A programs commonly run 3 to 8 weeks and around 160 hours of combined classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction; part-time evening and weekend schedules stretch to 10 to 12 weeks. Federal law also requires you to hold your commercial learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test, so factor that waiting period into your timeline. Programs promising a Class A with almost no road time are selling you short, no matter how fast the pitch sounds.
Is financial aid available for CDL school in Vermont?
Often, yes. Workforce development grants, state vocational rehabilitation funds, and VA education benefits at approved programs can cover some or all of training costs; approval depends on the school and the applicant. Company-sponsored training is another route, but it trades tuition for a work commitment. Read the repayment terms, minimum service period, and what happens if you do not finish before you sign anything.
Which CDL endorsements are worth getting in Vermont?
HazMat (H) and Tanker (N) are the fastest pay raisers for most new drivers: employers ask about them most, and extra testing keeps the qualified pool small. HazMat requires ELDT theory from a registered provider, a state knowledge test, and a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprinting. Doubles/Triples (T) helps with LTL linehaul, while Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) open bus work but require behind-the-wheel endorsement training too.
How do I know a CDL school in Vermont is legitimate?
Check the exact school location on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry; if it is not listed there, its training cannot qualify you for the federal testing requirement. Then check the state agency that regulates private career schools, because federal registration and state authorization are separate. Ask every school the same questions about total cost, behind-the-wheel hours, schedule, job placement, and funding, and never trust a school that calls itself FMCSA approved. The FMCSA does not approve schools; providers only self-certify.
Next Steps
If you are still deciding what kind of driving fits your life, read our Class A vs Class B breakdown and the step-by-step guide to getting your CDL. To compare training paths, see our best CDL schools ranking, paid CDL training programs, and community college programs. Career-minded readers should check the OTR driver guide and the local driver guide, plus our complete endorsements guide before choosing which tests to take.