How long does cdl truck driver training take in Delaware?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware through FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years.

Do CDL truck drivers need a license in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware requires state-level licensing or registration for CDL truck drivers, administered by the Division of Motor Vehicles. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware (2026)

Q: How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Delaware?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in Delaware earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,590. Employment concentration in Delaware is about 1.41 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for CDL truck drivers in Delaware?

Delaware currently employs approximately 9,040 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Delaware heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $57,590 ($27.69/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 9,040 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -1.8% below the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,590 ($27.69/hr)
25th percentile: $53,570 per year
75th percentile: $58,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $69,770 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,850 per year
Workers employed in Delaware: 9,040
Versus national median: -1.8% below the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.41 - this occupation is more concentrated in Delaware than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Delaware employs about 9,040 CDL truck drivers earning a median $57,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a CDL Truck Driver here means completing FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years, then applying through Division of Motor Vehicles.

Key Facts

Median wage (Delaware): $57,590/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Delaware: 9,040 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.41x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
Licensing/credentialing body: Division of Motor Vehicles (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in Delaware

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education	77.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,902	90%	—	71 mi
2	James Rumsey Technical Institute	74.9	Contact school for pricing	$53,906	Not reported	—	128 mi
3	North American Trade Schools	63.4	Contact school for pricing	$47,948	69%	—	64 mi
4	Hagerstown Community College	62.1	Contact school for pricing	$55,827	38%	Yes*	116 mi
5	Polytech Adult Education	60.8	Contact school for pricing	$54,607	74%	—	22 mi
6	Schuylkill Technology Center	60.6	Contact school for pricing	$53,477	60%	—	102 mi
7	Dawn Career Institute LLC	52.4	Contact school for pricing	$32,884	Not reported	—	22 mi
8	All-State Career School	41.9	Contact school for pricing	$48,534	49%	—	36 mi
9	All-State Career-Baltimore	35.5	Contact school for pricing	$40,918	57%	—	53 mi
10	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute	34.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,393	Not reported	—	70 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Delaware employs approximately 9,040 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,590 ¹. The state’s concentration of cdl truck driver jobs is 1.41x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 237,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: ELDT from a Training Provider Registry school (find programs)
Typical timeline: FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years
Licensing authority: Division of Motor Vehicles
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (Delaware): $57,590 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware

How to become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware? Complete FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Apply through Division of Motor Vehicles.

How long does it take? Most people finish FMCSA ELDT, a DOT medical exam, a CLP, and a state-issued CDL. Training is measured in weeks, not years. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Division of Motor Vehicles.

Do I need a license in Delaware? Yes. Delaware credentials this role through Division of Motor Vehicles ³. See the licensing section below.

What do CDL truck drivers earn in Delaware? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Delaware is $57,590 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,850 and experienced professionals can earn $69,770 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Delaware

Meet age, record, and medical rules. Interstate CDL driving is generally 21 and up; many states allow intrastate CDL at 18. Pass a DOT medical exam from an NRCME examiner.
Complete FMCSA ELDT. Take Entry-Level Driver Training from a school on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test. Earn a commercial learner’s permit, practice, then pass the skills test at the state driver-license office.
Receive the CDL and endorsements. The state issues the CDL. Add endorsements the job needs. Confirm current rules with the state DMV, not a parent transportation agency homepage.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Delaware

CDL truck drivers in Delaware complete FMCSA ELDT, pass a DOT medical exam, and earn a state-issued CDL. This is a weeks-long path, not a multi-year apprenticeship. See Division of Motor Vehicles ³.

Typical path

Meet age, record, and DOT medical rules.
Complete ELDT on the Training Provider Registry.
Get a CLP and pass the skills test.
Receive the CDL and needed endorsements from the state DMV.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Division of Motor Vehicles before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Delaware vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	32,220	$59,370	$62,060	$46,850	$79,590
Dover	1,440	$54,150	$53,900	$44,880	$67,620

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for CDL truck drivers in Delaware? Delaware currently employs approximately 9,040 CDL truck drivers ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cdl truck driver in Delaware with an out-of-state license? Contact the Division of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Delaware? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Delaware.

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Delaware compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Delaware is $57,590, which is $150 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Delaware

Best Trade Schools in Delaware (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Division of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://www.dmv.de.gov/services/TransServ/index.shtml ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)