The guide below provides a detailed analysis of the general process required to start a successful truck driving career in the state of Oklahoma. Readers will gain a clear understanding of everything they need to do to prepare for their commercial driver’s license exam, including preparation through formal training programs.
They will also understand the possible medical and physical requirements, associated fees, and specific steps for career advancement. For the best education, we also provide a list analyzing the top training programs to attend as a future truck driver in Oklahoma.
Ultimately, readers will discover the average earnings of truck drivers in Oklahoma and learn about the steps they can take to increase their annual income.
How to Become a Truck Driver in Oklahoma
Aspiring truck drivers commonly follow the following framework in Oklahoma to launch a successful career.
Obtaining a Learner’s Permit
A commercial learner’s permit is essential for helping candidates prepare for their licensing examination. Applicants may receive a CLP after proving that they have the necessary fundamental knowledge of truck driving by passing a knowledge test.
Candidates will also need to provide proof of satisfactory medical results from an approved medical examiner.
Endorsements
Apart from the base CDL, truck drivers in Oklahoma may also want to work with specific types of vehicles, such as those transporting hazardous materials or school buses. In this case, they will have to obtain an endorsement in that particular area.
Other CDL endorsement categories include double/triple trailers, passenger vehicles, and tank vehicles, among others.
Completing a Formal Program
No law requires attendance at a training program when starting a truck driving career in the state of Oklahoma. However, candidates are encouraged to complete a program for several reasons, including the fact that it is the best way to prepare for a career and a CDL examination.
Additionally, truck driving programs can be completed very quickly, with some lasting as long as 3 weeks. The convenience and flexibility, combined with the several opportunities and professional benefits to be gained, are significant enough that the majority of prospective truck drivers attend training programs anyway, despite their non-mandatory nature.
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Licensure & Certification Requirements
The fees that aspiring truck drivers in Oklahoma should be aware of include the application fee for a license and the license fee itself. Currently, the application fee for prospective truck drivers in the state is $25 for candidates applying for a Class A license, $15 for those applying for a Class B license, and $15 for those applying for a Class C license.
As for the licensing fees, candidates must pay $36.50 for a Class A license, $56.50 for a Class B license, and $46.50 for a Class C license. For candidates who will be pursuing HAZMAT endorsement with their license, they will also have to pay an additional $15.
The cost for retesting is $5, while the cost for replacement is $25.
Top Truck Driver Schools in Oklahoma
Below are some of the most notable training programs for future truck drivers in Oklahoma.
American Truck Training
Oklahoma City, OK Campus Only
American Truck Training offers a four-week CDL program led by instructors with an average of 35 years of industry experience, providing students with extensive training and one-on-one guidance.
Tuition
$5,495 per ProgramContact
(405) 254-5556
contact@oklovestrucking.com
CDLU of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, OK Campus Only
CDLU of Oklahoma offers a comprehensive CDL training program that strikes a balance between classroom instruction and hands-on driving experience.
Tuition
Call for DetailsContact
(405) 296-6850
cdlu.us@gmail.com
Central Tech
Drumright, OK Campus Only
Central Tech delivers a Class A CDL training program backed by over five decades of experience.
Tuition
$4,300 per ProgramContact
(918) 352-7316
tdtadmissions@centraltech.edu
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Salary & Career Outlook
Truck drivers in Oklahoma may find themselves among the bottom 10% earners or the median earners at the start of their careers. Towards the middle, or after working on a few relevant factors, it is possible to move up to the top 10% category.
As a truck driver in Oklahoma in the bottom 10% category, the annual average salary to expect is $45,856. As a professional in the middle category, the most common figure to expect is $96,476.
Truck drivers in Oklahoma who are among the top 10% tend to make an annual average salary of $202,977 a month. The optimizable factors to improve yearly earnings as a truck driver in the state include endorsement, experience, professional credentials, and location.
The top-paying locations for the field in the state are currently Chickasha, Lawton, and El Reno, with annual average salaries of $112,121, $112,054, and $103,279, respectively.