May 21, 2025

CDL Training in Waco, TX: Get Road-Ready Fast

Ready to ditch the 9-to-5 for a career with freedom, high earning potential, and job security? CDL training in Waco, TX, could be your next move. With hands-on instruction, job placement support, and flexible scheduling, ATDS Truck Driving School prepares you for life on the road. Discover how you can start your truck driving career.

Are you ready to trade in a normal career grind for something different and adventurous? Maybe you’re looking at establishing a new career path, but you need help getting started. CDL training in Waco, TX, can prepare you for a lifetime career in truck driving. There are so many possibilities and opportunities out there, and taking a CDL training course helps prepare you to acquire your CDL and head out on the open road. 

This option opens you up to unlimited career potential with independence, stability, and potential for high earnings. Learn more about CDL training below! 

Why Choose CDL Training? 

A CDL is a commercial driver’s license. It is most commonly associated with driving a semi, but it can also be applied to other commercial vehicles - like buses. Here in Waco and other parts of Texas, we are right along the I-35 corridor, which is a major hub for freight transportation. There are many other prominent highways in the area as well. This makes Waco an ideal location for training and preparation to be out there on the road in a commercial vehicle. 

Training locally in such an area can help prepare you for direct employment opportunities. Some of the benefits of a local class include: 

  • Close proximity to national and regional trucking companies
  • Lower cost of living than many other major metro areas
  • Smaller class sizes with personalized instruction
  • Training school familiar with national requirements as well as Texas Department of Public Safety standards

In Waco, we offer you a supportive and learning environment paired with access to quality real-world training to help you pass the CDL test and prepare for driving in your career. 

What to Expect During CDL Training

CDL training is a comprehensive approach that combines classroom training with hands-on driving practice. You learn everything you need to know to pass the tests as well as being able to handle a commercial vehicle. Let’s take a look at what might be part of your training. 

In the classroom: 

  • Critical knowledge of vehicle systems and inspection procedures
  • Learning about air brake systems
  • Defensive driving techniques
  • Federal and state trucking regulations
  • Logbook training
  • Hour of service rules
  • Compliance

Behind the wheel training: 

  • Shifting and maneuvering
  • Backing up and parking
  • Road driving in a variety of conditions
  • Pre-trip inspections
  • Skills practice

You get a broad range of training and experience so that you can be fully prepared when you are out on the road unsupervised. 

How Long Does it Take to Get a CDL?

When you enroll in a Waco program, you can typically work through the program fairly quickly. Most programs average approximately 20 days of training from start to finish, but the overall time frame might depend on the type of class that you choose to take. At ATDS, we offer a weekday course as well as weekend courses to provide flexibility for varying needs. 

Job Placement and Career Opportunities

One of our strongest benefits at ATDS Truck Driving School is our connection with local and national employers. When you graduate from our program, we provide you with career support, and we have many partnerships with companies that seek out our graduates because of the quality of training they receive. 

We’re here to train you, but also to help you be successful in initiating a career. You could join businesses with local delivery routes, long-haul opportunities, and so much more. Is there an industry or type of driving you are most interested in? We can help! 

Trucking is and continues to be one of the most demanding careers around, and there are always opportunities available. 

Requirements to Know

Before you start CDL training, there are some basic requirements in the state of Texas: 

  • You must be at least 18 years old to drive in Texas and 21 for interstate driving
  • You should have a valid Texas driver’s license
  • Be able to pass a DOT physical exam and drug screening
  • Provide proof of residency and legal status
  • Be able to pass a CDL permit test to begin behind the wheel instruction

We assist you with preparing and passing your exams as part of your training. 

Tips to Succeed in CDL Training

You can use these tips to help you make the most of your training experience: 

  • Study consistently with prep books and your written practice tests
  • Ask questions if you need help or clarification on a concept or detail
  • Practice outside of class by observing or researching
  • Stay healthy and alert for DOT regulations
  • Focus on safety and honing awareness and caution skills

CDL Training in Waco, TX, with ATDS Truck Driving School

Are you ready to pursue a career on the road? Getting started in a premier truck driving instruction program is the place to begin. ATDS Truck Driving School is here to help. We have instruction sites in Waco, Lubbock, Giddings, and Killeen. Start by requesting information, and then we can further discuss your needs to get you started. 

Get started today