How long does cdl truck driver training take in Ohio?

Most people become a CDL Truck Driver in Ohio 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 Ohio (2026)

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), CDL truck drivers in Ohio earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,800. Employment concentration in Ohio is about 1.13 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: Do CDL truck drivers need a license in Ohio?

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

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

Ohio currently employs approximately 83,060 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

Ohio employs about 83,060 CDL truck drivers earning a median $59,800 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 Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Compare CDL Truck Driver Schools in Ohio

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	Hamrick School	79.3	Contact school for pricing	$52,393	88%	—	41 mi
2	New Castle School of Trades	71.6	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	107 mi
3	Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training	68.4	Contact school for pricing	$38,613	83%	—	116 mi
4	Vantage Career Center	65.4	Contact school for pricing	$44,179	87%	—	111 mi
5	Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$53,648	72%	—	71 mi
6	University of Northwestern Ohio	63.8	$13,875 - $26,266	$56,340	54%	Yes*	89 mi
7	Henry Ford College	53.9	Contact school for pricing	$54,466	14%	Yes*	106 mi
8	Apollo Career Center	51.2	Contact school for pricing	$46,663	67%	—	89 mi
9	Stark State College	46.3	Contact school for pricing	$49,440	23%	Yes*	53 mi
10	Hocking College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,764	Not reported	Yes*	102 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.

Ohio employs approximately 83,060 CDL truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,800 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 Ohio, 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: Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Exam: state CDL skills test
Median wage (Ohio): $59,800 per year ¹

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

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

Do I need a license in Ohio? Yes. Ohio credentials this role through Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles ³. See the licensing section below.

What do CDL truck drivers earn in Ohio? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Ohio is $59,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,670 and experienced professionals can earn $77,650 or more ¹.

How to Become a CDL Truck Driver in Ohio

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 Ohio

CDL truck drivers in Ohio 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 Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau 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 Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles before you enroll.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Ohio

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

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Columbus	16,110	$61,720	$64,760	$46,510	$90,080
Cincinnati	13,820	$60,590	$63,170	$45,920	$81,620
Cleveland	11,970	$58,970	$59,100	$40,970	$76,110
Toledo	5,110	$60,410	$60,970	$39,990	$77,340
Akron	4,740	$60,210	$60,130	$39,680	$77,350
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek	4,660	$59,490	$59,470	$41,670	$75,400
Youngstown-Warren	2,740	$56,810	$56,610	$37,720	$75,460
Huntington-Ashland	2,330	$50,050	$53,570	$35,560	$74,110
Canton-Massillon	2,270	$57,580	$56,030	$38,860	$73,920
Springfield	1,380	$58,810	$59,930	$40,510	$74,960
Wheeling	1,210	$57,590	$56,390	$42,360	$69,720
Mansfield	750	$57,280	$57,220	$44,380	$73,130
Weirton-Steubenville	730	$55,070	$54,810	$38,010	$75,120
Lima	660	$58,140	$59,170	$42,960	$73,400
Sandusky	520	$58,610	$58,700	$45,350	$75,810

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 Ohio? Ohio currently employs approximately 83,060 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 Ohio with an out-of-state license? Contact the Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do CDL truck drivers earn in Ohio compared to the national average? The median annual wage for CDL truck drivers in Ohio is $59,800, which is $2,360 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Ohio

Ohio Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Ohio

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Ohio Department of Public Safety - Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov ↩︎ ↩︎

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)