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Commercial Driver's License (CDL) - Training Certificate

In five short weeks, students will be ready to pass the Class A Commercial Driver’s License exam and hit the road as a licensed commercial truck driver. Students will get classroom and highway instruction as they train to sign on with a trucking company or become their own boss as an owner-operator of a commercial vehicle.

Graduates will be prepared to test for a Class A Commercial Drivers License. If accepted into the program, students are required to obtain a CDL Permit before class starts. A 10-year driving record obtained from DMV, SLED background check and DOT physical required. All paperwork must be completed and forwarded to FDTC before the student can be scheduled for a class. The program has been inspected, approved, and licensed by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. All instructors meet the department’s standards and are certified by the DMV. We aim to provide the highest levels of safety and professionalism with a motto of “Courtesy Counts and Safety Saves.” Students are given the opportunity to take the CDL driving test at their local DMV office in the same vehicle they used to complete their training.

Commercial Truck Driver

Most heavy and tractor-trailer drivers' routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road conditions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip.

Some drivers have one or tow routes that they drive regularly, on long runs to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives.

Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.

Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work.

Airport Campus Details

Home to more than 360,000 square feet of learning space, the Airport Campus is located on 65 acres in West Columbia.