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To work in the trucking industry in South Carolina, you will first need to train and meet some specific requirements.
In order to learn more about the required training, we have brought you some info in this article.
Article Table of Contents
Choosing a School
South Carolina has a good selection of schools you can choose from for your training.
Some of the schools provide scholarships for students who need their tuition costs covered.
To be able to easily find a scholarship either in truck driving or diesel technology, consider becoming a member of the South Carolina Trucking Association.
If you opt for a truck driving program, you should know these have a short duration, between 6 and 8 weeks.
The most common license for a truck driver is Class A, which you will receive after passing a written exam and a skills test.
Class B and C licenses are also available.
However, a diesel technology program gives you the option to get specialized.
Such a course usually lasts for one to 2 years, depending on the diploma you are pursuing.
In South Carolina, there are schools that provide a one-year diploma, but also schools that offer an associate’s degree.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College | 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829 |
| Carolina Driving Institute | 2311 Crowder Road Rock Hill SC 29730 |
| Central Carolina Tech | 506 N Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 |
| Central Carolina Technical College | 2140 Peach Orchard Road (U.S. Hwy 441),Sumter, South Carolina 29150 |
| Denmark Technical College | 1126 Soloman Blatt Blvd, Denmark, SC 29042, USA |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 2715 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29502 |
| Greenville Technical College | 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | 2050 Hwy 501 E, Conway, SC 29528 |
| J & J Truck Driver Training | 1557 Country Road S-45-292, Cades, SC 29518 |
| KDS Commercial Driver Training Academy LLC | 4587 Old Hickory Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720 |
| Midlands Technical College | 1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia, SC 29170 |
| Miller-Motte Technical College – Charleston | 8085 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406 |
| Miller-Motte Technical College – Conway | 2451 Highway 501 East, Conway, SC 29528 |
| Northeastern Technical College | 1201 Chesterfield Hwy., Cheraw, SC 29520 |
| Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College | 3250 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118 |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 3791 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy, Fairfax, SC 29827, USA |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 7293 Peppermill Parkway, North Charleston, SC 29418 |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 1085 Thunderbolt Dr., Walterboro, SC 29488 |
| Piedmont Technical College | 620 N Emerald Rd., Greenwood, SC 29648 |
| SAGE | 277 Dooley Road, Lexington, SC 29073 |
| Spartanburg Community College | 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | 921 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902, USA |
| Tri-County Technical College | 7900 Hwy 76, Pendleton, SC 29670 |
| Truck Driver Institute | 3425 Lancaster Hwy., Richburg, SC 29729 |
| Union County Adult Education | 517 E Main St, Union, SC 29379, USA |
| Williamsburg Technical College | 601 MLK Jr Ave., Kingstree, SC 29556 |
| XTRA Mile Driving Training Inc | 855 U.S. 15, Bishopville, SC 29010 |
| York Technical College | 452 S Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730 |
For instance, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College provides a one-year diesel technology program with 16 credits.
Another school worth looking into is SAGE Truck Driving School.
This school has many varied programs available, such as a 2,150-hour driving essentials course, a driving refresher class and a tractor-trailer class for advanced drivers.
The school also provides other options, such as a job placement program.
This can be very useful for students who want to get hired right after completing the course.
You should also consider opting for a program with small class size.
These classes are more beneficial as they offer increased driving hours and more interaction with your instructor.
If you are already working, you can consider taking evening classes instead of the regular ones.
Getting Hired
In South Carolina, there are many places to get work after you get your license.
For example, you can check out repair shops, trucking companies, and leasing centers.
Beacon Transport, C.R. England, and A&R Transport are some of the most important companies in this state.
If you are wondering what the job outlook is for truck drivers, you should know it is quite positive.
Based on a report by O*Net from 2015, truck driver jobs will see a growth of 20% by 2022.
According to the same source, diesel mechanics jobs will also see an increase of 13%.
Below you can see the average salary for a truck driver in South Carolina’s largest cities.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $42,077 |
| Columbia | $41,614 |
| North Charleston | $42,077 |
| Mount Pleasant | $42,077 |
| Rock Hill | $43,613 |
| Greenville | $43,229 |
| Summerville | $41,891 |
| Goose Creek | $42,015 |
| Sumter | $39,620 |
| Hilton Head Island | $41,150 |
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 5,180 | $53,200 | $25.58 | $76,190 | $33,270 |
| Columbia, SC | 5,070 | $49,890 | $23.99 | $69,700 | $34,440 |
| Florence, SC | 1,670 | $49,720 | $23.91 | $65,120 | $33,080 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 4,900 | $48,970 | $23.55 | $65,740 | $31,850 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 580 | $47,990 | $23.07 | $65,660 | $36,710 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 1,940 | $44,770 | $21.52 | $60,070 | $35,360 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 3,290 | $52,120 | $25.06 | $73,840 | $35,600 |
| Sumter, SC | 570 | $47,280 | $22.73 | $73,700 | $34,110 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Conclusion
The trucking industry in South Carolina has been on the rise over the past decade and will continue to do so.
If you complete a program and get a license, you can benefit from a long career in the industry.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Truck Driver
CDL Schools by State