Truck Driving Schools in Colorado

Truck driving can be an incredibly rewarding profession for adventurous candidates in Colorado. The profession offers opportunities to travel between cities and even across states while earning significant yearly income.

Colorado also boasts remarkable truck driving training programs that are ready to get students started on their career path as quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly as possible.

Students have a better chance of success if they are familiar with the process before embarking on it. Thankfully, that is the purpose of this article.

We explore, among other things, the basic educational requirements needed to obtain a commercial driver’s license in Colorado. We also touch upon the best training destinations in the state, and the possible annual average salary candidates can expect at different points in their careers.

How to Become a Truck Driver in Colorado

The steps below are required to become a truck driver in Colorado.

Steps 1: Prerequisites

Ultimately, aspiring truck drivers in Colorado must enroll in a training program and pass a licensing test. However, before they get to these stages, candidates must have a regular driver’s license and be at least 18 years old.

They must also have a valid Colorado address, social security number, and a valid DOT medical card from a FMCSA-certified medical examiner.

Step 2: Acquire Proper Training

Candidates must demonstrate that they possess valid truck driving skills, which can be acquired from training programs across the state.

It is important to attend a training program, even for those who already have the skills because these programs provide comprehensive preparation for the actual licensing test to come.

Some training destinations will also help candidates schedule a skills test and practice test to simulate the main thing.

Most CDL training programs in Colorado can be completed in 3 to 4 weeks.

Step 3: Pass the CDL Tests

The state of Colorado holds both a knowledge and skills test for aspiring truck drivers. The knowledge test covers 20 areas, including state and federal regulation. It requires an 80% passing score.

The skills test must be taken in the vehicle classification applicants expect to operate.

Explore Trades with Similar Paths:

• Learn to become an auto mechanic in Colorado

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Completing the above steps should be adequate to make sure candidates qualify for a Colorado commercial driver’s license, which is all they’d need to start working as truck drivers in the state.

Of course, there are also some fees associated with various steps of the process, such as the initial learner’s permit, which costs around $16.80 to obtain, and the actual CDL, which costs around $15.50.

Finally, it is also worth pointing out that truck drivers in Colorado may be relieved of their CDL if they are found to be working under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. There are a few other disqualification conditions that candidates must ensure they’re familiar with before starting the job.

Top Truck Driving Schools in Colorado

The following are some of Colorado’s best destinations for top-quality CDL training.

Explore truck driving schools in Colorado by city:

• Truck Driving Schools in Denver

Salary & Career Outlook

A Truck driver in Colorado typically earns an annual salary of $117,434, 2% higher than the national average for other states. A truck driver in the state who falls in the category of those who earn the most may take home as high as $219,247 in annual salary, while those who fall among the lowest-paid in the bottom 10% take home around $62,901.

Sorting strictly by experience, we find that truck drivers with less than one year of experience in Colorado make an average of $110,265 per year, while those with more than 10 years of experience take home an annual average salary that can be as high as $132,600.

Colorado Springs, with an annual average salary of $127,245; Aurora, with an annual average salary of $125,817; and Fort Collins, with an annual average salary of $121,308, are the highest-paying cities for truck drivers in Colorado. They are followed by Denver, with an annual average salary of $114,177, and Greeley, with an annual average salary of $105,677.