Future Truckers of America

The Future Truckers of America Class A CDL training concists of 4 weeks of both classroom training, "behind the wheel" training, observation, and night-time driving. Training is Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. till 6 p.m. In addition, FTA offers one of the lowest teacher to student ratios in the country: 1:10 in the classroom, 1:5 in the field, and 1:1 observation and "in the truck" training.

What Does the FTA Class A CDL Course Cover?

• Week 1 - Classroom - Students will be training to prepare for the CDL permit test in either North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia. The permit test will include the following subject areas: General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination. You may also take tests for Tanker, Hazmat and Passenger Endorsements.
• Week 2 - Observation, Pre-trips, Permits - You will be meeting your required hours of observation, learning the pre-trip inspection, and studying to obtain your CDL Permit. The knowledge test will be taken on the Friday of this week.
• Week 3 - Field Training - During week three you will actually be getting behind the wheel of a tractor. You will spend much of your time backing up, as this is one of the more difficult tasks a truck driver faces. In addition, you will also learn coupling and spend some time on the highway. One of the most important things you will learn the pre-trip inspection. When someone does fail the CDL permit test, it is often because they have missed something on the pre-trip inspection, so you will learn this backwards and forwards.
• Week 4 - Highway and Night Training - During your last week of CDL training, you will gain valuable highway time and learn maneuvers for changing lanes, speed and brake adjustments. In addition, since many "over the road" drivers spend much of their time driving at night, you will also spend time driving at night - a combined total of 20 hours. You will be using late model Volvo's during this week of training.
• Hazmat Training - Hazmat and tanker endorsement training is included in the FTA curriculum and is highly recommended.

Tuition And Financing

To learn about tuition costs students, need to call their local FTA location at 1-800-610-3777. FTA offers competitive pricing, however they do not offer financing. In addition to tuition, students will also be required to pay state fees.

• Virgina - CDL permit fee: $3.00, CDL license: $27.00, and drug screen and physical: $100
• North Carolina - CDL permit: $60, CDL license fee: $100, and drug screen and physical: $120
• South Carolina - CDL permit application fee: $27.50 (plus $3.00 for each endorsement), CDL testing fee: $25, license fee: $7.50, and drug screen and Physical: $100

Although financing is not offered through FTA, students can look into private loans, grants, and even tuition reimbursement programs. In addition FTA participates in The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which is a federally funded training and job program that creates a new approach providing workforce investment activities through statewide and local systems. Authorized workforce innovation and opportunity activities provided at the local level benefit job seekers, dislocated workers, incumbent workers, new entrants to the workforce, veterans, persons with disabilities, and employers.

Admission Requirements

Minimum age of 18, valid driver's license from your state of residency, and an ability to pass DOT physical and drug screen.

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  Future Truckers of America
  1095A W Dixie Dr
  Asheboro, NC 27203
  800-610-3777

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  Future Truckers of America
  1821 U.S. Hwy 421
  Wilkesboro, NC 28697
  800-610-3777

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  Future Truckers of America
  2701 University Pkwy
  Winston-Salem, NC 27105
  800-610-3777

Find CDL Training Through Paid CDL Training Programs

Did you know there are also paid CDL training programs available? These are truck driving schools which are owned and operated by trucking companies. They're also known as company-sponsored CDL training programs. These programs can often turn out to be free CDL training! Check out that link to learn more.

Independent truck driving schools and company-sponsored schools are both worthy of consideration and are covered thoroughly in our truck driver's career guide.