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Those who want to work on or with trucks have several ways of accomplishing their dreams.
However, your first step is to read this article that will offer some insight into what the field is about.
So, how can you become a truck driver in Florida?
Article Table of Contents
Meeting the Requirements
The first requirement is related to your age: you have to be at least 18 years old to drive a truck, but you can’t go beyond the state border, nor can you transport hazardous materials or tow trailers.
To be able to drive out of state, tow trailers or transport hazardous materials, you have to be at least 21 years old.
You’re also supposed to have a valid driving license in the State of Florida, pass a series of exams, like medical and background checks
You also need to have a Social Security Card or be able to prove you can legally work in the United States.
Choosing a School
As of now, there are more 40 schools offering trucking and diesel technology programs in this state.
While the high number can be overwhelming, here are several criteria to use when making your selection.
For instance, you can consider the lower tuition, as well as the duration of the program.
Bradford Union Technical Center provides a program with 1800 hours of classroom and lab work.
This allows you to graduate in 2 years if you attend 18 hours of classes per week.
You should also look into the kind of license you can get or even the school’s location.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| A & D Alternative Trucking | 8000 NW 74th St., Medley, FL 33166 |
| AR Express | 3028 NW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33122 |
| Associated Training Services | 5177 West Homosassa Trail, Lecanto, FL 34461 |
| Bradford Union Area Career Technical Center | 609 N Orange St, Starke, FL 32091 |
| Career Tech, LLC | 1755 Olive St., Lakeland, FL 33815 |
| College of Central Florida | 3001 SW College Rd, Ocala, FL 34474 |
| Cypress Truck Driving School | 1414 Lindrose St, Jacksonville, FL 32206 |
| Cypress Truck Driving School | 7400 Interbay Blvd., Tampa, FL 33616 |
| Flagler Technical Institute | One Corporate Dr, Palm Coast, FL 32137 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville – Cecil Center | 5640 New World Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32221 |
| Indian River State College | 5900 Tedder Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34947 |
| J-Tech Institute | 8813 Western Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256 |
| Key Power Driving School Inc - Central Shopping Plaza | 3790 NW 11th St, Miami, FL 33126 |
| Key Power Driving School Inc - La Belle | 250 E Cowboy Way, La Belle, FL 33935 |
| McFatter Technical Center | 6500 Nova Dr, Davie, FL 33317 |
| Metropolitan Trucking & Technical Institute | 398 NE 79th St, Miami, FL 33138 |
| Metropolitan Trucking & Technical Institute | 2920 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 |
| Metropolitan Trucking & Technical Institute | 199 Pike Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33411 |
| Miami Lakes Educational Center Adult Division | 5780 NW 158th St, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 |
| Mid Florida Tech | 2900 W Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809 |
| National Training Truck Driver School – Administrative Office | 188 College Dr, Orange Park, FL 32065 |
| National Training Truck Driver School – Training Grounds | 5660 County Rd 209, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 |
| NBI Truck Driver Training | 4950 Recher Highway, Winter Haven, FL 33880 |
| Pinellas Technical Education Centers | 901 34th St, St Petersburg, FL 33711 |
| Ridge Career Center | 7700 State Rd 544 W, Winter Haven, FL 33881 |
| Roadmaster Drivers – Jacksonville, FL | 1409 Pickettville Road, Jacksonville, FL 32810 |
| Roadmaster Drivers – Orlando, FL | 6000 Cinderlane Parkway, Orlando, FL 32810 |
| Roadmaster Drivers – Tampa, FL | 5025 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33610 |
| SAGE – Indian River State College | 5900 Tedder Road, Suite 139, Fort Pierce, FL 34947 |
| Sheridan Technical Center – West Campus | 20251 Stirling Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33332 |
| South Florida Community College | 600 W College Dr, Avon Park, FL 33825 |
| The CDL School | 2001 10th Ave N Ofc 7A, Lake Worth, FL 33461 |
| The CDL School | 7900 NW 27TH Ave Spc D-3, Miami, FL 33147 |
| The CDL School | 7800 NW 27th Avenue, Miami, FL 33147 |
| The CDL School | 7751 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33147 |
| Truck Driver Institute | 5750 E Milton Rd, Milton, FL 32583 |
| Truck Driver Institute | 3700 St Johns Pkwy, Sanford, FL 32771 |
| Washington Holmes Technical Center | 757 Hoyt St, Chipley, FL 32428 |
It is possible for the school to grant a scholarship and in many cases, helping the students find full-time employment is also part of what the school has to offer.
The Herman Fauss Scholarship, for instance, can be a good choice for students who want to become truck drivers.
Keep in mind that truck driving programs have a shorter duration compared to diesel technology programs.
The Class A training program provided by CDI Truck Driving School only lasts for a month or less.
The classes are available Monday through Friday, while on Saturday you will take driving lessons.
You can also take driving lessons in the evenings.
Income
Commercial drivers in Florida earn on average about $43,724 per year, while those in the top 10% earn about $50,673 per year.
The median salary across the country for these drivers is $44,225 per year while those in the top 10% make around $51,254 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $41,740 |
| Miami | $43,053 |
| Tampa | $42,138 |
| Orlando | $42,071 |
| Saint Petersburg | $42,102 |
| Hialeah | $42,722 |
| Tallahassee | $40,112 |
| Cape Coral | $41,124 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $42,947 |
| Pembroke Pines | $42,668 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 2,640 | $50,640 | $24.35 | $63,110 | $38,440 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 730 | $47,360 | $22.77 | $62,470 | $35,530 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 1,740 | $48,620 | $23.37 | $60,570 | $34,930 |
| Gainesville, FL | 1,160 | $44,290 | $21.29 | $59,410 | $23,650 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 240 | $44,310 | $21.3 | $57,440 | $34,910 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 12,870 | $54,740 | $26.32 | $77,230 | $37,690 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 7,200 | $53,230 | $25.59 | $76,220 | $36,830 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 24,980 | $54,530 | $26.22 | $75,520 | $38,430 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 1,130 | $49,680 | $23.88 | $63,620 | $36,550 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 2,500 | $51,580 | $24.8 | $65,410 | $38,300 |
| Ocala, FL | 2,000 | $50,270 | $24.17 | $70,270 | $35,810 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 13,600 | $53,300 | $25.63 | $72,010 | $37,440 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,540 | $50,630 | $24.34 | $61,940 | $37,840 |
| Panama City, FL | 820 | $47,800 | $22.98 | $60,770 | $36,560 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,530 | $48,550 | $23.34 | $61,190 | $36,360 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1,550 | $49,130 | $23.62 | $61,030 | $37,360 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 530 | $48,280 | $23.21 | $61,130 | $37,530 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 380 | $48,260 | $23.2 | $60,650 | $36,020 |
| Sebring, FL | 200 | $44,670 | $21.48 | $59,000 | $30,980 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 1,120 | $45,650 | $21.95 | $60,280 | $34,230 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 15,170 | $52,710 | $25.34 | $70,760 | $38,130 |
| The Villages, FL | 590 | $47,310 | $22.75 | $59,260 | $37,440 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
There are many trucking companies based in Florida and it makes sense that trucking and diesel education are important here.
This also means you’ll have little issues in finding a job, so all you have to do is choose a suitable program and improve your skills.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Truck Driver
CDL Schools by State