Truck Driving
Chemeketa's truck driving certificate will provide the knowledge and skills needed to earn your Commercial Driver License (CDL) in four weeks. **This program is not financial aid eligible**
topics Trades
Skills & InterestCoordination
CareersService Professions
Why choose Truck Driving?
The supply chain relies on qualified drivers, and the industry needs over 1 million new commercial drivers over the next decade to replace retiring workers and keep up with demand.
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High Local Demand: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving is consistently one of the most in-demand occupations in the Mid-Valley region.
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Abundant Openings: The U.S. expects roughly 214,500 CDL driver openings each year.
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Fast-Track Career: Earn a competitive wage with full benefits—without taking on years of traditional college debt.
What will you learn?
Chemeketa's truck driving certificate program consists of 160 hours of coursework:
- XCDL 9100A - Introduction to Professional Truck Driving & Logistics (40 hours)
- XCDL 9100B - Practical Applications in Professional Truck Driving & Logistics (80 hours)
- XCDL 9100C - Transportation Customer Service Skills (40 hours)
This coursework will provide the skills necessary for you to earn your Commercial Driver License, or CDL.
What will you do?
A career in commercial truck driving offers stability, flexibility, and strong earning potential from day one:
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Job Security & Stability: Trucking is an essential industry with high ongoing demand—drivers are always needed to keep local and national supply chains moving.
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Competitive Starting Pay: Earn a strong wage straight out of training, often accompanied by signing bonuses, full benefits, and clear pathways for advancement.
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Local, Regional, or OTR Options: Choose the lifestyle that fits you best—whether that's daily local routes in the Pacific Northwest so you are home every night, or regional and over-the-road (OTR) long-haul travel.
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Diverse Career Paths: Transport a wide variety of cargo, from agricultural goods and freight to specialized flatbed or tanker loads as you gain experience and endorsements.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program nondiscrimination statement:
Equal Opportunity Is the Law
It is against the law for this recipient of Federal financial assistance to discriminate on the following bases: Against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sex stereotyping, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, or political affiliation or belief, or, against any beneficiary of, applicant to, or participant in programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, on the basis of the individual's citizenship status or participation in any WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity.
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Program Requirements
In order to be eligible for the program, you must:
- Have a valid driver's license with a minimum of one year of driving experience
- Be at least 18 years old to drive in-state, and 21 years old to drive across state lines
- Provide verifiable work history or schooling
- Certain felony convictions can limit employment. Hazmat hauling has stricter rules; if you plan to haul Hazmat materials, inquire with employer/DMV prior to pursuing program
- Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination (DOT Medical Examiner's Card)
- Pass a DOT drug screening (completed after acceptance into the program, and ordered by Chemeketa)
- Obtain a Class A CDL learner permit with Airbrake and Combination Vehicles endorsements. Tests administered at DMV in English only.
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Session Start Dates
**2026 Class Schedule:** (Please note that these dates are subject to change.) When applying, please indicate your preferred month.
January Class
- January 5, 2026
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 1/19
- Class full
February Class
- February 2, 2026
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 2/16
- Class full
March Class
- March 2, 2026
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- Class full
April Class
- April 6, 2026
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- Class full; not accepting applications
May Class
- May 4, 2026
- Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 5/25
- Class full; not accepting applications
June Class
- June 1, 2026
- Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 6/19
- Class full; not accepting applications
July class
- July 6, 2025
- Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm (4-week training)
- Class full; not accepting applications
August Class
- August 3, 2026
- Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm (4-week training)
- Class full; not accepting applications
September Class
- September 1, 2026
- Monday through Thursday 7 am to 5 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 9/7
- Class full; not accepting applications
October Class
- October 5, 2026
- Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- Class full; not accepting applications
November Class
- November 2, 2026
- Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm (3-week training, may be updated to 4)
- No class/Holiday on 11/11
- Class full; not accepting applications
December Class
- December 1, 2026
- Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm (3-week training, may be updated to 4)
- Accepting applications
**2027 Class Schedule:** (Please note that these dates are subject to change.) When applying, please indicate your preferred month.
January Class
- January 4, 2027
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 1/18
February Class
- February 1, 2027
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
- No class/Holiday on 2/15
March Class
- March 1, 2027
- Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (4-week training)
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alternates are based on the order in which the application was received. Securing a spot in the next available class automatically puts you on the alternate list unless you have asked not to be added. If a space becomes available in a class, the alternate will be contacted with a deadline to respond to take the available space.
Updated November 4, 2026, at 12:01 pm
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Application Process
Please complete the following steps for entry into the program-
- Complete the online truck driving application or contact us for a paper application
- Submit a front and back copy of your driver's license (must be licensed for a minimum of 1 year) **can be uploaded with the online application**
- Submit a front and back copy of your Commercial Learner's Permit (obtained after 3 DMV tests and DOT Physical) **can be uploaded with the online application**
- Submit a copy of your DOT Medical Examiner's card **can be uploaded with the online application**
- A certified court printout of your driving record from DMV for the last ten years (available at DMV for $3) **can be uploaded with the online application**
- Applicants should ensure they will meet the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requirements to get a CDL
Applications are processed on a first-come first-served basis.
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Tuition & Fees
Approximated tuition and fees for the program are as follows:
Prior to Training Fee Paid By Amount DOT Drug Screen Student (Chemeketa orders, paid online) $45 Clearinghouse Query Student to Clearinghouse $1.50 DOT Physical Exam Student to testing facility $100+ DOT Driving Record Student to DMV $3 CDL Learners Permit Student to DMV $40 Knowledge Test Student to DMV $10 Airbrakes Test Student to DMV $10 Combination Vehicles Student to DMV $10 CDL Program
TuitionStudent (see "payment information" menu
for scholarship information below)$6,250 Post Training Fee Paid By Amount CDL Testing Student testing facility $300 CDL Driver's License Student to DMV $160-$224 * All fees are approximate, as those fees may be changed by the respective organization at any time
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Payment Information
Payment Methods (non-credit programs are not eligible for financial aid through Chemeketa financial aid office):
- Cash, Check, Credit Card
- Payment plan through your My Chemeketa account
- Grants/Scholarships
- Available to qualifying students through several different programs. Please see the "Grants and Scholarships" menu for more information.
- Personal Loans
- Students can obtain their own financing through a financial institution of their choice
Several trucking companies have sign-on bonuses or tuition reimbursements once a student earns their CDL.
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Grants and Scholarships
Financial assistance may be available through the following programs. You will still need to fill out a Truck Driving Application in addition to these applications for funding. See the Application Process tab for more information.
WorkSource Oregon Vocational Scholarship
- Complete and update an iMatchSkills profile: https://empportal.emp.state.or.us/mprod_imscod_dad/!pkg_startup.proc_new_home
- Schedule and complete a Welcome conversation with the employment department (this includes ID verification): https://www.worksourceoregon.org/contact
- This can be completed virtually or in person at any WorkSource Center
- In that Welcome conversation, make sure to request a referral to WIOA services for funding for their program
- Additional funding may be available through the STEPS program at WorkSource.
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Refresher Courses
Need to brush up on your truck driving skills? Receive one-on-one training with our instructors to address your areas of need. See pricing below.
**CDL must not have lapsed/expired more than 5 years to qualify for a refresher**
Skills assessment required (completed with an instructor who then recommends the number of hours).
Refresher Courses Description Paid By Amount 2 Hours-Truck Testing only Student $250 3 Hours Student $400 5 Hours Student $650 7 Hours Student $900 15 Hours Student $1,400 -
HAZMAT Training
Need a Hazmat endorsement on your CDL? We offer an online hazardous materials endorsement course that qualifies you to drive vehicles carrying hazardous materials.
You must have your CDL Class A License or Learner's Permit for acceptance to class (you will be required to submit a copy).
Classes are offered year-round. Please email truckdriving@chemeketa.edu or call 503.584.7537 for enrollment information.
Description Paid By Amount Hazmat Online Course Student $250 Additional Requirements per DMV
You must:
- Meet the requirements for, or have, a CDL;
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident [ORS 807.173(1)(c)];
- Pay for and pass the HAZMAT Endorsement Knowledge Test;
- Pay for and pass a Transportation Security Administration Criminal Background Check (see below);
- Pass a vision test; and
- Pay the endorsement and replacement fee.
Note: You are required to pass the HAZMAT Knowledge Test every time you renew your license.
Transportation Security Administration Security Threat Assessment
- You must pass a TSA security check every five years to keep this endorsement.
- The security check can take 60 days or more to complete.
- You must pass another TSA security check if you are coming from another state and your last TSA check was more than 4 years and 9 months ago.
- We will verify the date of a previous security check with the TSA.
- You must start a TSA security check online at the TSA website or by calling Universal Enrollment Services at 855-347-8371.
- Check the status of your case to see if you passed.