Private Trucking Schools Approved Near Honolulu
Company-Sponsored Trucking Schools
Getting a CDL in Honolulu, HI?
Then it’s time to look for an FMCSA-approved trucking school.
Now, as much as we want you to find schools within Honolulu, we believe you need to get the quality education you deserve, even if it’s beyond the area.
So in this article, we will point you to the best trucking schools near Honolulu, HI.
On top of that, we’ll look at both private and company-sponsored trucking schools. This way, you can find the perfect match.
So let’s dive right in!
Best Private Trucking Schools Near Honolulu, HI
If you want to go to a private trucking school, then here are the best ones located near Honolulu, HI:
Let’s see what each school offers.
University of Hawai’i
Address: 2444 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI, 96822
Phone Number: (808) 956-8975
The University of Hawai’i has partnered up with Leeward Community College to offer students the Commercial Motor Vehicle program.
This program helps students to be fully prepared in all technical skills, terminologies, and concepts — everything you must know as a CDL driver.
This CMV program offers both Class A and Class B courses. But if you want to focus on trucking services alone, Class A is the correct path to choose.
When you enroll in this program, you’ll get both classroom, behind-the-wheel training, and test reviews to prepare for the CDL written exam.
One important thing to note is that the behind-the-wheel training is held at the Leeward Community College in Pearl City, just a few miles away from Honolulu.
What’s so great about the CMV program is the assistance in landing job offers post-program and exam. Since Leeward Community College was one of the first schools to set up trucking programs, it was able to build relationships with truck companies around Hawaii.
If you’re interested, then go ahead and give the school a call.
Professional Driving Academy
Address: 91-1224 Midway Road, Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone Number: (808) 479-8107
Another trusted trucking school in Hawaii is Professional Driving Academy. And from the name itself, you can expect that the instructors are professional CDL drivers.
Sure, it’s a bit far from Honolulu, about a 25-minute drive to and from, but it will be worth it.
Its Class A program spans over 8 weeks and teaches pre-trip, post-trip, and CDL-specific driving methods.
Once you enroll in this program, you can also expect a classroom size below 8 students. This means you can get the support and attention you’ll need as you go through the sessions.
What makes this school stand out is its emphasis and commitment to safe driving practices. The school understands the demand of trucking companies to reach their goals in terms of total trips and services rendered, but it should not be at the expense of drivers and pedestrians on the road.
As of the moment, this school does not offer financial assistance, but it can help students in terms of job placement. It has its own list of trucking companies that they’ll gladly reach out to.
Do you think it’s worth the trip? Then go ahead and check them out!
808 CDL Services LLC
Address: 323 Manono st., Hilo, HI 96720
Phone Number: (808) 936-3292
Trucking schools, compared to regular driving schools, are expensive. One program usually lands at $4,000.
If you are on a budget, then we have a school in mind for you — 808 CDL Services LLC.
Its Class A program won’t go over $4,000. Plus, it includes the fundamental information and skills needed to become a CDL driver.
This has become one of the top schools of choice for Hawaiian students for several reasons:
- It is one of the most affordable trucking schools in the state.
- The school offers financial aid to its students if they are eligible.
- The course is a one-on-one instruction program. It’s as if you’re availing a private instructor.
No one else in Hawaii offers this rate with those features above.
So if you just need to know the basics and don’t want to drain your wallets, then this is the school for you. Just give them a call to learn more!
And yes, we know that it’s a bit of a trip from Honolulu, HI. But, with the reasonable price, great features, and other help, it will be worth it.
Best Company-Sponsored Trucking Schools
Are you willing to live away from Hawaii momentarily to enroll in a FREE trucking program with pay?
If yes, then we highly recommend a company-sponsored trucking school.
These companies carry the expenses of your training. In turn, you must work for them once you get your CDL.
If you want to take this path, it’s a good idea to go for only the best ones:
TMC – TMC is one of the top flatbed trucking companies in the country. If you’re looking to specialize in this field, then this should be at the top of your list. Aside from learning from flatbed truck experts from this company, you also won’t have a hard time finding a job because you’ll be immediately employed with them after you graduate.
Roehl – This is one of the biggest trucking companies in the country. It has almost 3,000 employees and over 8,000 trucks available. They have many training locations available all over the country, so you can pick which state you’d want to train in. Since you’ll be coming from Hawaii, this company will shoulder both your transportation and housing as you complete the program.
Knight Transportation – Similar to the other two, there are no locations in Hawaii, but your transportation and lodging costs will be covered. But what makes Knight Transportation stand out is the FREE inclusions students have on-site. There are free laundry machines, vending machines, ice machines, and lounges with Wi-Fi available in all locations. If you want to chill or squeeze in some of your errands, then you can easily do so here!
Frequently Asked Questions
Got some questions about CDLs in Hawaii? Then let’s look at some of the most frequently asked ones.
What are the Hawaii CDL requirements?
Here are the basic requirements for getting a CDL in Hawaii:
- Be at least 18 years old if driving within Hawaii and 21 years old if driving in other states.
- Have a DOT certification. This is a certificate that shows you are physically and mentally capable of operating a CMV.
- Have a valid, HI driver’s license.
- Be a US citizen or legal alien.
- Have a Social Security card.
- Be a resident of Hawaii.
- Pass the vision test, CDL written test, and CDL skills test.
What can I expect from the CDL skills test in Hawaii?
There are 3 stages to the CDL skills test in Hawaii. These are:
- Pre-Trip Test – You will need to operate or interact with a commercial vehicle. The goal is to test your knowledge on gauging the condition of the vehicle and call if it’s safe to use on the road.
- Skills Test – You will need to be able to demonstrate the backing, turning, braking, and parking maneuvers on the road and off-road.
- Road Test – You need to demonstrate your ability to drive a commercial vehicle in different roadways and traffic situations.
What happens if I fail the CDL written test in Hawaii?
If you fail the CDL written test on your first try, then don’t worry. In Honolulu, you are given a second chance in retaking it.
That said, you have to wait at least 1 week before you can go again. Also, you may have to pay the fees again (if there are any)
Conclusion
Those were the best trucking schools near Honolulu, HI.
Though Hawaii’s demand for truck drivers is on the rise, finding a quality school is hard to come by in this state — let alone in Honolulu.
Thankfully, there are lots of awesome trucking schools near the city.
So go and pick the one that best suits YOU.
And if you’re interested in a company-sponsored trucking school, then go ahead and pick from our list.
Good luck!