How long does cdl truck driver training take in Florida?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in Florida 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 Florida?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in Florida earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,640. Employment concentration in Florida is roughly 0.86 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Florida currently employs approximately 112,920 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

Florida employs about 112,920 CDL truck drivers earning a median $50,640 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 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Key Facts

Median wage (Florida): $50,640/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Florida: 112,920 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.86x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
Licensing/credentialing body: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in Florida

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	Treasure Coast Technical College	73.2	Contact school for pricing	$53,449	Not reported	—	72 mi
2	Indian River State College	68.6	Contact school for pricing	$47,615	44%	Yes*	80 mi
3	Marion Technical College	68.1	Contact school for pricing	$38,674	76%	Yes*	98 mi
4	Sheridan Technical College	64.6	Contact school for pricing	$37,703	70%	Yes*	152 mi
5	Palm Beach State College	62.9	Contact school for pricing	$48,635	Not reported	Yes*	126 mi
6	Miami Dade College	62.2	Contact school for pricing	$49,323	45%	Yes*	167 mi
7	Flagler Technical College	61.4	Contact school for pricing	$24,972	85%	—	114 mi
8	North Florida Technical College	55.3	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	74%	—	148 mi
9	Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College	49.6	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	156 mi
10	Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$40,318	Not reported	Yes*	68 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.

Florida employs approximately 112,920 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,640 ¹. 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 Florida, 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: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (Florida): $50,640 per year ¹

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

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

Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida credentials this role through Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ³. See the licensing section below.

What do CDL truck drivers earn in Florida? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Florida is $50,640 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,700 and experienced professionals can earn $74,330 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Florida

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 Florida

CDL truck drivers in Florida 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 Department of Highway Safety and 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 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Florida

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	29,060	$51,580	$56,080	$38,270	$75,140
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	15,840	$50,560	$54,470	$38,850	$72,770
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	15,420	$50,250	$55,100	$37,910	$74,940
Jacksonville	13,100	$55,630	$57,080	$38,620	$78,160
Lakeland-Winter Haven	7,820	$57,090	$58,030	$39,560	$80,990
Cape Coral-Fort Myers	3,050	$48,950	$51,990	$38,120	$64,600
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota	2,930	$50,890	$54,070	$38,750	$70,360
Ocala	2,230	$51,490	$54,910	$36,700	$81,460
Port St. Lucie	2,060	$48,590	$52,430	$38,410	$66,500
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach	1,910	$47,660	$51,740	$34,890	$64,580
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent	1,710	$47,950	$49,670	$35,380	$62,900
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville	1,690	$48,460	$50,550	$28,000	$69,060
Gainesville	1,370	$48,930	$51,850	$35,960	$65,930
Naples-Marco Island	1,340	$49,520	$53,340	$37,510	$66,170
Tallahassee	1,260	$46,470	$50,320	$36,920	$65,810
Panama City-Panama City Beach	890	$47,610	$50,580	$35,620	$63,930
Wildwood-The Villages	840	$47,180	$47,900	$34,900	$63,350
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin	640	$47,940	$49,020	$35,520	$62,160
Punta Gorda	570	$46,780	$48,810	$35,020	$62,620
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor	350	$48,410	$49,340	$34,710	$61,960
Homosassa Springs	240	$45,750	$45,860	$34,220	$56,690
Sebring	230	$44,930	$47,530	$33,810	$60,320

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 Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 112,920 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 Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Florida is $50,640, which is $6,800 below the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Florida

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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)