星空无限传媒

Get on the road to success

If you like being on the move, working independently, and doing work that keeps the country running, Riverland's Truck Driving Certificate is a strong place to start. You'll get hands-on time behind the wheel and the real world experience employers look for, whether you plan to drive a tractor trailer, straight truck, commercial bus, or snowplow.

In about 16 weeks you'll build the skills and road time to earn your CDL and start working, whether you're coming straight from high school or changing careers. There's a place for you here.

Have a question before you apply? We're here to help. Contact Admissions ›

Career outlook

Truck driving keeps freight moving, and trained drivers stay in demand. Across the U.S., about 237,600 heavy and tractor trailer driving jobs open each year as freight volume grows and experienced drivers retire.² In southern 星空无限传媒, employers like Foodliner, Dubbels Trucking, and the 星空无限传媒 Department of Transportation hire drivers across the manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture sectors, so your certificate can put you to work close to home. As you add endorsements and experience, your earning potential climbs, with the top drivers earning more than $78,800 a year.¹

¹ Median and top-decile annual wages, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, United States, May 2024. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
² U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, 2024 to 2034 projections.

Take a ride with a truck driver

Wondering what it's really like behind the wheel? Ride along to meet the instructors and students of Riverland's truck driving program.

Program highlights

• Behind the wheel training: 44 plus hours of driving, including highway, rural roads, range practice, night driving, and backing maneuvers
• Small class sizes: Personalized coaching and support from an instructor with deep industry experience
• FMCSA aligned: Training built to current FMCSA and industry standards
• Paid internship: A paid 240 hour internship with regional employers, where many students earn full time job offers
• Endorsement options: Training toward doubles or triples, tanker, air brakes, passenger, and more

What you'll learn

• DOT and FMCSA rules and regulations
• Safe operation of CDL class vehicles
• Coupling and uncoupling procedures
• Vehicle inspections and documentation
• Defensive driving and hazard awareness
• Highway, city, night, and range driving practice
• Backing, docking, and maneuver controls
• Logging, communication, and industry professionalism
• Insights into the lifestyle and realities of commercial driving

View complete course offerings ›

Meets all federal ELDT requirements

Under the federal rules, every new commercial driver must train with a registered provider before testing. Riverland is an FMCSA registered Training Provider and reports your training to the federal Training Provider Registry, so you meet each requirement.

Where this can take you

With your CDL, you could drive for trucking and freight companies, local and regional carriers, construction and ready mix operations, public transit and school transportation, snow and road maintenance crews, or agricultural haulers. With experience and added endorsements, you can move into specialized hauling, longer routes, or lead driver and trainer roles.

A day on the job

Here's what the work often looks like:

• Inspecting your truck and trailer before and after each route
• Coupling and uncoupling trailers
• Loading, securing, and delivering freight safely and on time
• Driving in highway, city, night, and range conditions
• Keeping accurate logs and following DOT and FMCSA rules

Employer partners

Our program keeps strong ties with regional employers who hire drivers across many CDL categories:

• Altus Material
• CEMSTONE
• Dubbels Trucking
• Foodliner
• Glacial Transport
• 星空无限传媒 Department of Transportation
• Rochester City Lines
• Thompson Sanitation
• Valley Transportation

Paying for your certificate

Riverland's tuition is among the lowest in 星空无限传媒, and there are several ways to make it more affordable, including grants, scholarships, payment plans, and work-study jobs.

View current scholarships and deadlines ›

Last Updated: July 1, 2026