Commercial Truck Driving

Commercial truck driving prepares students for careers as long or short haul drivers. The Twin Lakes area is a hotspot for tractor-trailer and light truck drivers. Our region boasts 2,339 jobs well above the national average for an area this size of 1,563. Within a 60-mile radius of Mountain Home, an average of 116 drivers are hired each month making transportation andmaterial moving the third largest occupation in the region.

The approximate cost ($3,000) for this seven-week training program provides the participant with classroom training, simulator practice, range practice, behind the wheel driving time, and one trip to a testing center (Harrison or Newport) to test in the same vehicle used during the training program.

Classroom Training
Our in-house classroom training environment is designed to get you prepared for the hands-on driving experience you will enjoy at ASUMH. The first step is to learn the Arkansas state Class A permit licensing information.  After you have achieved your class A commercial driver’s license permit, your instructor will introduce you to Logs, Hours of Service regulations, Driver Wellness, Compliance Safety Analysis, and begin working with you on the Pre-trip inspection of the commercial vehicle. This solid beginning will give you the confidence you need for the next steps, maneuvering and driving the semi-tractor trailer.

Basic Skills and Range Training
Our staff have decades of experience training students for Class A CDL skills examinations. They know that most of our students have never even been in an eighteen-wheeler, and demonstrate consistently the patience required to get you in one and moving. We begin this portion of the training curriculum on the range, teaching proper shifting technique while developing backing and turning performance. At this junction of training, students will begin learning the 105-point pre-trip inspection.

Safe and Proficient City and Highway Driving Techniques
Once you have successfully mastered shifting and backing technique to safely proceed to the “Road Skills” portion of your hands-on training, you will be introduced to rural, city and highway driving behind the wheel of an 18-wheel, air brake equipped semi-tractor trailer.

*Approximate Costs Subject to Change.
Commercial Driver’s License Test Packet $50
DOT Physical and Drug Screen $100 - $135
Drug Screen $55
Tuition and Fees $2,685
Commercial Driver’s License $42
Total $2932 - $2967