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CDL schools in Ohio
53 schools in Ohio are on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry for Class A training and take students from the public. Programs that post prices to Ohio's approved training list charge a median $5,823, with the middle 80% between $3,634 and $7,755 (56 programs).
Heavy truck drivers in Ohio earn a median $59,800 a year, and 83,060 hold those jobs. A commercial learner permit costs $32 and the Class A license $47 for 4 years (Ohio DMV pages, checked Oct 5, 2026).
Registry file Oct 5, 2026 · BLS wages May 2025 · Ohio training list (TrainingProviderResults.gov)
Class A schools open to the public in Ohio; 45 teach theory, range and road.
Typical first-time cost: median posted tuition plus the Ohio permit ($32) and CDL ($47). Medical exam extra.
Ohio training locations FMCSA has removed from the registry, 342 of them involuntarily.
Median pay for heavy truck drivers in Ohio; 83,060 work there.
Find a Ohio school near you
Type a ZIP code to see the nearest registered Class A schools. The full lists are below.
Where 53 schools are
39 cities in Ohio have a page with their schools, prices and removed providers. Biggest first.
| City | Class A schools | All registered schools |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | 4 | 4 |
| Cincinnati | 3 | 3 |
| Hamilton | 3 | 3 |
Smaller towns, with their schools
Columbus
International CDL School, Roadmaster Drivers School (COL)
Medina
160 Driving Academy - Cleveland, Hamrick School
Perrysburg
Owens Community State College, Trainco, Inc. - Perrysburg, OH
Archbold
Northwest State Community College
Avon
LDG Truck Driving School
Batavia
Butler Tech CDL Batavia
Canton
Great Lakes Truck Driving School
Chesapeake
Collins Career Technical Center
Cleveland
160 Driving Academy
Columbia Station
Great Lakes Truck Driving School, Inc.
Dayton
160 Driving Academy
Euclid
Cuyahoga Community College CDL Training Program
Findlay
Owens State Community College
Fremont
Trainco, Inc. - Fremont, OH
Gallipolis
Destiny Truck Driving Academy
Gnadenhutten
American Professional Truck Driving School By Buckeye Career Center
Hilliard
160 Driving Academy - Columbus
Lima
Apollo Truck Driving Academy
Mansfield
Trainco, Inc. - MACC
Marietta
Washington County Career Center
Maumee
160 Driving Academy - Toledo
Milan
Ehove Truck Driving Academy
Moraine
160 Driving Academy - Dayton
Mt. Orab
Southern State Truck Driving Academy
Nelsonville
Hocking Technical College
Niles
as ETI Technical College of Niles
North Canton
Stark State College CDL Training Program
North Jackson
Northeast Ohio Truck Driver Training LLC
Oberlin
Lorain County Adult Career Center
Pataskala
Central Ohio Technical College
Piketon
Southern State Truck Driving Academy
South Point
Collins Career Technical Center
Springfield
Clark State College
St Clairsville
Belmont College Truck Driving Academy
Tipp City
A1 CDL School
Toledo
160 Driving Academy
Van Wert
Vantage Career Center
Vienna
YSU Truck Driving School
Wellston
Destiny Truck Driving Academy
Zanesville
Mid-East career and Technology centers
Source: FMCSA Training Provider Registry location file, Oct 5, 2026.
What we left out
We left out 1,695 active registrants in Ohio: 1,686 are private (training the employees or students of one organization only); 6 are online-only or travel to the customer; 3 tick "open to the public" but are not schools that take students: 1 school district or public school program, 1 employer or carrier training their own drivers and 1 we could not classify from the registry record. Every count comes from the same registry file. Schools we kept pass a name, domain and class check that we describe on sources.
What CDL school costs in Ohio
Ohio programs post tuition to the Labor Department's list of approved training programs, the list workforce boards use to pay for training. Across 56 programs the median is $5,823, the lowest posted price is $1,895 and the highest is $25,845. Completion and job rates are on each school's page where it has them.
State fees
| Commercial learner permit | $32 |
|---|---|
| Skills test | $50 |
| Class A license (4 years) | $47 |
Ohio DMV pages, checked October 5, 2026 · fee page. The DOT medical exam is extra.
Ohio's CDL manual (state DMV).
Source: TrainingProviderResults.gov program file (downloaded Oct 5, 2026); Ohio DMV pages.
Free and company-paid training in Ohio
Workforce boards. If you qualify for WIOA, a Ohio workforce board can pay tuition at a school on the state's approved list. Ask at an American Job Center before you enrol, because boards pay only for programs on the list.
Carrier-paid programs that list Ohio among their training sites. Training is free up front because you agree to drive for the carrier. What the carrier's own pages say:
| Carrier | Cost to you | Commitment | If you leave early |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Inc. | $0 upfront if you drive for Prime 1 year with CDL; Prime blog states $155 student cost ($100 admin fee + $55 permit/test costs) | 1 year driving for Prime with CDL | unverified on the carrier's page (tuition becomes payable if commitment not met) |
| Stevens Transport | no out-of-pocket costs | 'your commitment' - length not on page; third-party reports promissory-note model | unverified |
| Knight Transportation (Knight CDL Academy) | tuition reimbursement offered; amount not stated | unverified | unverified |
Carrier pages checked Oct 5, 2026. "Unverified" means the carrier does not publish it; ask for the signed agreement before you start. All carriers
How to check a Ohio school before you pay
Since February 2022 you can only take the CDL skills test after finishing entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA's registry. Search the school's name at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov and confirm its status says Active. Or use our check-a-school page, which also searches the removed list.
FMCSA has removed 369 Ohio training locations from the registry, 342 of them involuntarily. The registry lists 41 more Ohio locations as under review. A school on the removed list cannot certify your training. Removals by state
45% of Ohio's Class A schools updated their registry record in 2026; 16 have left their record untouched for over two years.
Questions people ask
How much is CDL school in Ohio?
Programs on Ohio's approved training list post a median of $5,823, with the middle 80% between $3,634 and $7,755. With the permit and license fees, plan on about $5,901 before the medical exam.
How many CDL schools are in Ohio?
53 schools in Ohio are registered for Class A training and open to the public, in 43 cities. FMCSA lists 369 Ohio locations as removed.
How do I check that a Ohio school is on the FMCSA registry?
Search the school's name at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov and confirm its status says Active. Our check-a-school page searches active, removed and under-review records in one box.
Is there free CDL training in Ohio?
Two routes. A workforce board can pay tuition at a school on Ohio's approved training list if you qualify under WIOA, and some carriers train you for free in return for a work commitment. The terms differ, so read the signed agreement before you start.