Truck Driving Schools in Louisiana

The most successful truck drivers are those who can expertly handle challenging circumstances while still meeting targets and ensuring that goods are delivered to their destinations in a timely manner. In the following guide, readers will discover everything they need to do to successfully start a truck driving career in the state of Louisiana.

After carefully outlining each step of the process, we focus on licensing and certification requirements, annual average salary projections, and possibilities for career growth.

We also discuss the best institutions and training destinations for developing all the necessary skills for a professional truck driver in Louisiana.

How to Become a Truck Driver in Louisiana

The following steps are necessary to become a truck driver in Louisiana.

Step 1: Meeting the Basic Requirements

In Louisiana, prospective truck drivers must meet age and physical requirements. For the former, candidates must be at least 18 years old to drive within and outside the state.

Concerning their physical health, candidates must be in strong shape and have clear vision. They must provide a medical examination report from an approved physician to this effect.

Step 2: Completing a Training Program

Future truck drivers must develop specialized technical skills to operate heavy trucks while preparing for their commercial driver’s license examination. This is one reason why every interested individual attends a training program.

Some training programs, including those offered by trucking companies, also provide students with a job placement guarantee, provided they complete their education and pass the CDL examination.

We explore some of the most prominent options to consider in an upcoming section.

Step 3: Passing the CDL Examination

The CDL examination in the state of Louisiana includes a knowledge and a skills test. The knowledge test ensures that candidates possess the foundational knowledge of rules and regulations necessary to become heavy truck drivers.

After demonstrating theoretical proficiency, applicants must also demonstrate that they possess the expertise to apply and effectively practice their skills. They do so through a skills test where they maneuver a truck that falls into their licensing category.

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The state of Louisiana has three major classes of CDL licenses: Class A, Class B, and Class C. A Class A license is suitable for the combination of vehicles with a combined weight of 26,001 pounds, with trailers weighing 10,000 pounds or more.

Class B licenses apply to single vehicles with a gross weight of 26,001 pounds, towing another vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less. Class C licenses belong to vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, or those carrying hazardous materials.

The fees for getting a CDL in Louisiana include $15 for the commercial learner’s permit, $100 for the party skills test, $61.50 for the commercial driver’s license itself, and $7.50 for any endorsement.

Top Truck Driver Schools in Louisiana

The institutions listed below offer prominent truck driving training programs for candidates in Louisiana.

Explore truck driving schools in Louisiana by city:

• Truck driving schools in New Orleans

Salary & Career Outlook

Data obtained from a survey of truck drivers in Louisiana, conducted on Indeed.com, revealed that professionals in this field can be categorized into multiple groups without focusing on any single factor. These include the top 10% earners, the bottom 10% earners, and the median earners.

Candidates in the top 10% make an annual average salary of $212,749, while those in the bottom 10% end the year with a salary of around $37,880. In the median category, which is the most popular, candidates manage an annual average salary of $89,772.

Analyzing based on location, Coushatta and Bossier City are where truck drivers in Louisiana earn the highest annual average salaries, at $130,467 and $106,351, respectively. Professionals in Houma are also among the top 3 in the state with an annual average salary of $101,270.