How long does cdl truck driver training take in Louisiana?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in Louisiana 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 Louisiana?

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

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,320. Employment concentration in Louisiana is about 1.11 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Louisiana currently employs approximately 28,540 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

Louisiana employs about 28,540 CDL truck drivers earning a median $49,320 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 Office of Motor Vehicles.

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in Louisiana

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	Southwest Mississippi Community College	64.8	Contact school for pricing	$27,408	48%	Yes*	79 mi
2	Copiah-Lincoln Community College	63.6	Contact school for pricing	$36,902	51%	Yes*	94 mi
3	Diesel Driving Academy-Baton Rouge	62.5	Contact school for pricing	$48,134	74%	—	52 mi
4	Diesel Driving Academy-Shreveport	61.0	Contact school for pricing	$45,918	76%	—	158 mi
5	Hinds Community College	53.6	Contact school for pricing	$40,042	Not reported	Yes*	118 mi
6	Lee College	53.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,434	Not reported	—	211 mi
7	Meridian Community College	50.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,810	Not reported	Yes*	202 mi
8	University of Arkansas at Monticello	49.8	$9,292 - $22,519	$48,735	46%	Yes*	180 mi
9	Jones County Junior College	45.6	Contact school for pricing	$36,340	Not reported	Yes*	156 mi
10	Bishop State Community College	42.3	Contact school for pricing	$43,359	31%	Yes*	220 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.

Louisiana employs approximately 28,540 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,320 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 Louisiana, 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: Office of Motor Vehicles
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (Louisiana): $49,320 per year ¹

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

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

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

What do CDL truck drivers earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Louisiana is $49,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,710 and experienced professionals can earn $68,740 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Louisiana

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 Louisiana

CDL truck drivers in Louisiana 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 Office 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 Office of Motor Vehicles before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Baton Rouge	5,830	$54,840	$55,120	$39,400	$74,180
New Orleans-Metairie	5,500	$51,540	$53,330	$37,960	$73,880
Shreveport-Bossier City	3,060	$49,360	$50,590	$36,930	$64,600
Lafayette	2,920	$49,450	$55,190	$36,730	$70,570
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	1,460	$49,300	$51,470	$36,740	$72,700
Lake Charles	1,340	$49,960	$52,000	$37,210	$67,780
Monroe	1,240	$47,300	$46,900	$35,090	$59,180
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	1,040	$49,410	$51,760	$36,060	$71,900
Hammond	830	$48,650	$50,100	$36,490	$63,850
Alexandria	780	$47,370	$48,260	$35,640	$65,580

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 Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 28,540 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 Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Office of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Louisiana is $49,320, which is $8,120 below the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Office of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://www.sos.la.gov/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

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)