CDL Schools in Idaho (Top Programs Listed)

CDL Schools in Idaho

Any responsible person would do a lot of research before choosing a new career.

It’s time to discover more regarding what it takes to become a truck or bus driver.

Are You Qualified?

Meeting certain requirements before getting your new driving license means you’re qualified.

The first of them is that of your age: you have to be at least 18 years old to drive a truck in Idaho.

You must be at least 21 if you want to drive out of state or carry dangerous materials.

Additionally, only those who can prove their legal status in the USA, are residents of Idaho, have a clean driving record, pass a background check and some medical examinations can hope to become either truck drivers or diesel mechanics.

Choosing a School

Choosing the right school is important because the best ones would offer a quality program and could even help you with a grant, a scholarship and several ways to train for your future career.

It may be possible that you already have a job but would like to transfer to a different sector of your company, and your employer could pay for your tuition instead.

In any case, even if you don’t qualify for any of those options, these schools are not very expensive and out of financial reach.

School Name Address
Boise State University 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID 83725
College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving 5252 Treasure Valley Way, Nampa, ID 83687
Eastern Idaho Tech 1600 South 25th East, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Idaho Provisioners 1356 E Beechcraft Ct, Boise, ID 83716
Lewis Ayers Truck Driving School 2158 4th Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83801
SAGE 3448 N Huetter Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
SAGE 80 Doud Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221
SAGE 418 S Kit Ave, Caldwell, ID 83606
SAGE – College of Southern Idaho 315 Falls Avenue, Room 107C, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Swift Driving Academy 1428 Seventh Ave N, Lewiston, ID 83501
Top Gun Truck Driving Academy 21389 US 30, Twin Falls, ID 83301

You should, however, pay attention if your school offers endorsements and which ones.

Drivers who can transport hazardous materials are more valuable for their employers and can earn more money.

Driving a bus for more than 16 people, for instance, also requires a special endorsement.

These are some of the other endorsements available:

  • HAZMAT
  • Doubles/Triples
  • Tanker
  • Air Brake

Remember that adding endorsements to your license means you have more career options and you can earn more money as well.

License

It’s not enough to have an endorsement to drive trucks or buses: you also need the right license class.

There are 3 main classes you can get.

They’re set apart by the type of vehicle they allow you to drive.

The first 2 classes, A and B, make a difference when it comes to how much the vehicle weighs, while the 3rd class, C, applies to vehicles that don’t belong in the first 2.

Holders of Class A can drive vehicles below it (B, C, D).

However, if you hold a Class C license, you can’t drive vehicles in the upper classes (A and B).

Income

Professional drivers in Idaho make on average about $41,741 per year, while those in the top 10% earn about $48,374 per year.

Annual Salary Range:
$36K
$41K
$48K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
Location Avg. Annual Salary
Boise $41,961
Meridian $41,917
Nampa $41,519
Idaho Falls $40,203
Caldwell $41,474
Pocatello $38,432
Coeur d'Alene $43,518
Twin Falls $38,299
Post Falls $43,612
Lewiston $43,664

Regional Salary in Idaho

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Boise City, ID5,810$52,110$25.05$75,180$34,560
Coeur d'Alene, ID770$51,980$24.99$67,450$36,860
Idaho Falls, ID1,480$50,730$24.39$65,000$32,140
Lewiston, ID-WA390$53,810$25.87$74,840$37,400
Pocatello, ID480$48,680$23.4$64,010$31,920
Twin Falls, ID1,420$49,390$23.75$62,230$37,790
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, OCC Code 53-3032, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Final Thoughts

The best idea would be to enroll in a school that also knows employers, though finding a position as soon as you graduate shouldn’t be difficult.

USA CDL Schools by State


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