WA Archives - Truck Driving School HQ

A person who wishes to work as a truck driver must acquire a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or a commercial driver instruction permit (CDIP) in the State of Washington must comply with several federal and state requirements. These requirements are there to protect all of those who are on the road. If you wish to apply for a CDL, then you should know a few facts before applying.

To qualify for a CDL in this state, you must be at least 21 years or older. To obtain a Class A CDL, you must be able to complete a minimum of 160 hours of in-class and out-of-class commercial vehicle training. This is where enrolling into a truck driving training school comes in. Once you complete your training, your next step is to submit your application and prepare for the written exam and visual test. All applicants are required to take the General Knowledge test. Additional exams are given to applicants who wish to apply for additional endorsements. Having these endorsements will allow you to perform additional task. The DMV will issue a CDL permit if you pass the written exams. This permit is required to take the skills test, which is the next step of the CDL application process.

blue-tanker-truck Applicants who feel that they are ready to take the skills test must schedule a date before their permit expires. All applicants must provide an appropriate commercial vehicle for the class they are testing to drive. The skills test is divided into a pre-trip inspection, basic skills demonstration, and on-road testing. It usually takes 2 hours to complete. Applicants must pass all three parts to become a truck driver in Washington.

List of Truck Driving Schools in WA

Aberdeen

Grays Harbor College
1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Phone: (360) 532-9020

Auburn

CDS Commercial Driver School
4305 Auburn Way North,
Auburn, WA 98002
(253) 983-0200

Cheney

Driver Training Solutions
7405 S. Hayford Road,
Cheney, WA 99004
(866) 490-1645

Kent

Western Pacific Truck School
26330 79th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
(800) 333-1233

Kenmore

Western Pacific Truck School
6525 North East 175th Street,
Kenmore, WA 98028

Lakewood

Commercial Driver Services
11000 34th Avenue South
Lakewood, WA 98499
(253) 983-0200

Longview

Lower Columbia Transport Operator Program
1600 Maple Street,
Longview, WA 98632

Moses Lake

Big Bend Community College
7662 Chanute Street
Moses Lake, WA 98837
(509) 793-2061

Mount Vernon

North Cross Commercial Driving School LLC
3122 Cedardale Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
(360) 424-0373

Pacific

Seattle Truck Driving School
106 Frontage Rd. N
Pacific, WA 98047
(253) 528-0900

Pasco

Driver Training Solutions
2021 E James
Pasco, WA 99301
(888) 547-0772

T Enterprises Truck Driving School
210 E Lewis Place
Pasco, WA 99301
(509) 547-2441

Port Orchard

All Training Services (ATS)
3649 W Frontage Road
Port Orchard, WA 98367
(360) 373-1114

CDS Commercial Driver School
1986 SE Lund Ave. #3
Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 373-1114

Seattle

Evergreen Truck Driving School
8500 Perimeter Road South #101
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 430-5551

Spokane

North West Career Training Center
3707 S Godfrey Boulevard #104
Spokane, WA 99204

Tacoma

Bates Technical College
2201 S. 78th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 680-7400

DRM Driver Training
424 East 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98421
(253) 426-2100

Trans Union
4624 River Rd. East
Tacoma, WA 98443
(800) 922-0870

Vancouver

TestYou CDL School
7500 NE 16th Avenue Building 1 Unit D
Vancouver, WA 98665
(360) 750-9338

Walla Walla

Walla Walla Community College
500 Tausic Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 522-2500

Woodinville

Check Ride Driver Training Services
13632 NE 177th PL
Woodinville, WA 98072
(877) 502-8200

To add a trucking school to this page please use our contact form found on this page. When you submit a training facility, please include the name of the business, the address, and phone number.

The process of getting a Washington commercial driver’s license [CDL] can be quite difficult as there are now newer and stricter regulations which applicants have to comply with in order to acquire this type of license. First and foremost, there is the background check which is done on past driving violations which may affect one’s chances of being given a license. Another is the criminal background check which is done for applicants of a hazardous materials endorsement which not only prolongs the application process but also adds some costs to it. However, after you have acquired a CDL, one can also get a lot of benefits from it.

Today, applicants for a Washington truck driver’s license are required to undergo a self-certification process as to the type of commercial driving that they will be performing. One cannot proceed with the application trucking-sunset process if he or she does not self-certify first. Of course, another requirement is for one to be of the appropriate age which is 18 or 21 years old for intra and interstate driving consecutively. This means that you cannot apply for an interstate CDL if you are still below 21 years old.

The next thing that you would need is a medical certification from a DOT accredited physician. You have to pick up a DOT medical form from your local DMV office. The physician will certify whether you are physically fit to perform commercial truck driving. You would also need to undergo a vision test where you will be required to have a visual acuity of at least 20/40. Both of these tests are required in order to ascertain your capability of driving a commercial vehicle safely on the road.

After this, you would have to apply for a commercial driver instruction permit (CDIP) which will allow you to drive the type of commercial vehicle that you would like to apply for. For this, you would need to undergo a knowledge test which you would need to pass by getting an 80% score. The Washington CDL Manual would be of great help before you apply for this test. You can apply for this test at any local DMV office near you. But before you take the test, you would need to bring the following documents: your current driver’s license, Social Security number, payment for the application ($10), your medical and vision test results, and proof of residency in the state.

If you pass the test, you will be given a CDIP valid for 6 months. It is important to learn as much as you can about truck driving during this period accompanied by a licensed individual. You will be required to undergo truck driving training which will comply with the state’s requirements. Before the permit expires, you will have to apply the road test which involves a pre-trip inspection, basic skills test, and the actual road test in your DMV office. You will find the areas in which you will be tested on inside the CDL manual. Once you pass this test, you will be given a Washington CDL after paying the corresponding fees.

If you need assistance passing the license exams there are a variety of truck driving schools in WA to help. Schools can teach you the basic skills required, and provide you with real experience behind the wheel of a semi truck. In addition, many training programs offer job assistance after you have received your license. To learn more about current CDL requirements, click the link to the driver’s manual below.

WA Department of Licensing
PO Box 9030
Olympia, WA 98507-9030
Website: WA CDL Licensing Info
Washington Commercial Driver’s License Manual
Phone: 360-902-3900