How long does cdl truck driver training take in North Dakota?

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

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in North Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do CDL truck drivers earn in North Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,910. Employment concentration in North Dakota is about 2.08 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: Do CDL truck drivers need a license in North Dakota?

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

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

North Dakota currently employs approximately 11,870 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

North Dakota heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $60,910 ($29.29/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 11,870 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.9% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,910 ($29.29/hr)
25th percentile: $52,310 per year
75th percentile: $67,110 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,330 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,990 per year
Workers employed in North Dakota: 11,870
Versus national median: 3.9% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.08 - this occupation is more concentrated in North Dakota than the national average

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

North Dakota employs about 11,870 CDL truck drivers earning a median $60,910 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division.

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in North Dakota

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	Alexandria Technical & Community College	74.5	Contact school for pricing	$59,377	Not reported	Yes*	236 mi
2	Miles Community College	65.0	$5,818 - $17,452	$43,022	55%	Yes*	291 mi
3	Northland Community and Technical College	63.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,671	52%	Yes*	177 mi
4	Turtle Mountain Community College	61.9	$2,794 - $13,655	Not reported	49%	Yes*	100 mi
5	Lake Superior College	61.0	$5,785 - $19,723	$57,665	40%	Yes*	364 mi
6	Northern Wyoming Community College District	60.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,958	Not reported	Yes*	385 mi
7	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	Contact school for pricing	$47,713	44%	Yes*	379 mi
8	Sitting Bull College	53.9	$4,010 - $10,012	$39,240	23%	Yes*	98 mi
9	United Tribes Technical College	45.6	$4,632 - $14,309	$34,923	28%	Yes*	61 mi
10	Fort Peck Community College	33.2	$2,250 - $10,164	$31,073	16%	—	254 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.

North Dakota employs approximately 11,870 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,910 ¹. The state’s concentration of cdl truck driver jobs is 2.08x 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 North Dakota, 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: North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (North Dakota): $60,910 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in North Dakota

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

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 North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division.

Do I need a license in North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota credentials this role through North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division ³. See the licensing section below.

What do CDL truck drivers earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in North Dakota is $60,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,990 and experienced professionals can earn $83,330 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in North Dakota

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 North Dakota

CDL truck drivers in North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division 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 North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	3,570	$58,900	$59,770	$40,870	$78,350
Grand Forks	1,100	$59,360	$62,160	$47,440	$89,870
Bismarck	1,070	$62,000	$67,230	$48,320	$95,370
Minot	880	$61,030	$64,690	$48,480	$93,060

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 North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 11,870 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 North Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in North Dakota is $60,910, which is $3,470 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Dakota

Best Trade Schools in North Dakota (2026)

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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
North Dakota Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Division - Licensing Information: http://www.dot.nd.gov/divisions/exec/welcome.htm ↩︎ ↩︎

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)