Fequently Asked Questions

Do you offer financing?

Yes. Future Truckers does offer financing to qualified applicants. In order to qualify, you must be employable in the trucking industry and provide a down payment. Call one of our reps for more information on student financing.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost for tuition depends on the method of enrollment. FTA offers pre-enrollment payments with substantial discounts if you pay all costs in advance of enrollment. In addition, students may opt to receive tuition reimbursement, financing, and FTA is also WIA approved in North Carolina, South Carolina & Virginia. Please note that financing should be your last option, as you will of course be paying much more in financing charges.

To explore your payment options, please call us at 1 (800) 610-3777 or Click Here to Pre-Apply Online

In addition to the cost of tuition, there are a few state fees which are required, and those vary from state to state. Please view the applicable state fees on the right hand side of this page.

NEW PRICING AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. CONTACT A SCHOOL REP FOR MORE INFO. WEEKEND COURSES AVAILABLE IN JANUARY 2010.

Do you offer weekend courses

Yes. Beginning in January of 2010, Future Truckers will once again offer a weekend program. The weekend program is a carbon copy of our full-time program except it is spread out over 8 weekends and meets both Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend program is perfect for the student wishing to obtain their CDL License and continue to work their current job. Contact Future Truckers for start dates and costs.

Do I need a high school diploma?

No. You do have to be able to do simple math such as addition/subtraction and muliplication/division. You should be able to read and understand the English language to a point that you can follow directions and communicate with instructors, employers, and law enforcement officials.

What Are The Requirements For Obtaining My CDL?

The requirements for obtaining your CDL include: Minimum age of 18, Valid driver's license from North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia, Ability to pass DOT physical, drug screen, and alcohol test. Those are the minimum requirements. In addtion, you must pass the CDL permit (written test), obtain 160 hours of classroom, driving and obersvation time, and pass the pre-trip inspection & road test as set forth by each state.

For further information about the DOT physical, please visit FMCS Medical Criteria.

Although you can obtain your CDL license at the age of 18, you will will only be able to transport freight within the state from which you obtained your CDL until you turn 21.

*All active duty military drivers are waived from the CDL requirements by the Federal Highway Administration.

I Have My CDL Permit From Another State. Do I Have To Take The Entire Training Program?

If you have a CDL permit from another state, you must test for you CDL license in that state. You will have to retake your CDL permit in North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia in order to get a CDL License from these states.

I Have My CDL Permit. Do You Offer Training Only?

Under the FMCSA Mandate for entry level driver training you must receive the hours of training we offer in order to be elligible for employment. In addition to hands on training we cover many of these required training areas in the first week or classroom phase of training. So, the answer is "no". You must go through the complete class.

What Is WIA?

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federally funded training and job program that creates a new approach providing workforce investment activities through statewide and local systems. Authorized workforce investment activities provided at the local level benefit job seekers, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, new entrants to the workforce, veterans, persons with disabilities, and employers. These activities promote an increase in employment, job retention, earnings, and occupational skill attainment by participants. This improves the quality of the workforce, reduces welfare dependency, and enhances the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.

The federal Workforce Investment Act Program helps you find a job or train for a new career, and Future Truckers of America is "WIA Approved" in North Carolina, South Carolina, & Virginia. All adults, age 18 or older, are eligible to receive core services. There are certain criteria involved to become WIA approved, and we encourage you to Contact Us through our Online Application to request more information.

What Are Endorsements?

Endorsements are additional tests you must pass when you want to be licensed for certain kinds of vehicles. In North Carolina, the following endorsements apply:

H - Authorizes you to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials (hazmat)

T - Authorizes you to drive double trailers (combinations)

P - Authorizes you to drive passenger vehicles

N - Authorizes you to drive tank vehicles

X - Is a combination of the hazmat and tank vehicle endorsements

What Is Tuition Reimbursement?

Future Truckers of America invites the top nationally recognized trucking companies to make presentations to our students. We want you to have a job immediately after completion of your CDL training, and this gives you the opportunity to pose questions to the representatives of these companies.

Different companies have different job openings - such as Over The Road (long haul), flatbed, refrigerated, expedited, cross-border, etc. In addition, these companies may operate primarily in specific parts of the country. You may want to see parts of the great plains or California coast line, or you may wish to stay closer to home. The point is: you will get a chance to "interview" many different trucking companies and pre-apply to those companies.

Many of these trucking companies offer "tuition reimbursement", which simply means that if they, and you, believe you are a match for each other, they will pay you for your tuition over a period of time. Typically, this can mean $100 plus added to your pay check each each month.

There are many factors that can affect whether or not you are a desireable candidate for tuition reimbursement. To gear things in your favor, we suggest you opt to obtain endorsements. The more endorsements you have, the more positions you will be able to fill. In particular, a Hazmat endorsement is strongly recommened. In addition, if you do not have a passport, you should consider getting one. Many trucking companies carry freight into Canada and Mexico. Hence, if you have a Hazmat endorsement and a valid passport, you will have a better chance at landing a great truck driving job that will not only give you experiences you never thought possible, but also the opportunity to receive tuition reimbursement.

What Items Should I Bring On The First Day?

Current Drivers License
Social Security Card
Calculator
Completed school application
$100.00 for drug screen/physicalif apllicable
Motor Vehicle Report if requested
Criminal Report if requested

What Percentage Of Students Are Women?

Approximately 12% of truck drivers (nationally) are women, and this same statistic is in line with Future Truckers of America's enrollment trends. There is a growing demand for truck drivers, and women are realizing more and more that this profession fits them well.

State Fees

CDL Permit Application Fee: $27.50,

(plus $3.00 for each endorsement)

CDL Testing Fee: $25

License Fee: $7.50

Drug Screen & Physical: $100

CDL Permit: $45

Application Fee: $45

License Fee: $125

Drug Screen & Physical: $100

CDL Permit Fee: $3.00

CDL License: $27.00

Testing: $0.00

Drug Screen & Physical: $100