Cohorts start every two weeks. Limited seats.
For drivers with a job lined up

2 weeks to your Class A CDL. Built for drivers already hired.

An accelerated, fundamentals-only program for students with employment confirmed. We get you legally licensed and DMV-tested. Your employer trains you on the rest.

Takes 2 minutes No obligation
80
Hours of
intensive training
10
Training days
Mon – Fri × 2 wks
2
Cohorts
every month
27+
Years training
Upper Midwest drivers

Who this program is built for.

A quick walk through of what this program includes and the type of student it's meant for.

Read this before you apply

This program is for one type of student.

Drivers who already have employment lined up. If that's not you, our full 4-week program will serve you better.

The accelerated path covers the fundamentals required to legally earn your Class A CDL. That's it.

Choose accelerated Right fit

You're hired. Your start date is close. Your employer will handle the rest at orientation.

  • You have a carrier, fleet, or employer that's hired you
  • Their orientation will cover equipment, ELDs, and procedures
  • You need a CDL within 30 days of graduation
  • You can commit to full days, Monday through Friday
  • You have prerequisites in hand (or willing to get them before attending class)
Apply for accelerated

Choose the 4-week program Better fit

You want comprehensive preparation, job placement help, or you're still searching for an employer.

  • You're still job hunting and want placement support
  • You want comprehensive prep, not just licensing
  • You want hands-on with multiple transmissions + ELDs
  • You'd prefer a steadier pace with more absorption time
  • You want our CVTA-certified flagship experience
See the 4-week program
Before class starts

Four things you need in hand.

The accelerated program assumes you arrive ready. Don't have these yet? Admissions will help — start the conversation early.

01
Valid driver's license
A clean license in good standing — the foundation for every other step.
02
DOT physical
Federal medical certification from a certified examiner.
03
Drug screen
DOT-compliant pre-employment screen completed.
04
CDL permit (CLP)
Issued by your state DMV. Federally required for behind-the-wheel.
Need help getting these? Once enrolled, our admissions team helps schedule the DOT physical, drug screen, and CLP study + testing. Many employers also coordinate or cover these for new hires — talk to us early so we can plan your timeline.
What's included

The fundamentals to get you licensed.

Nothing more, nothing less. No padding, no upsells, no skills you'll re-learn at orientation.

The Accelerated CDL stack
Everything required to pass your test — fully included
CVTA accredited
  • 80+ hours of full-immersion training
    Classroom theory, range/yard, and on-the-road driving — taught by experienced, patient instructors.
  • Class A CDL ELDT online theory training
    Self-paced, FMCSA-compliant, completed alongside your hands-on weeks.
  • Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection mastery
    The skill that fails the most CDL test takers. Drilled until it's automatic.
  • Coupling + uncoupling instruction
    Tractor-trailer connection procedures — required on the CDL skills test.
  • Manual transmission training (optional)
    Available on request. Many students leave with an unrestricted CDL — some employers prefer automatic-only training to match their fleet.
  • Safety procedures + DOT expectations
    Hours-of-service, inspection compliance, the legal framework you operate under.
  • On-site DMV skills test
    Pre-trip, basic control, and road exam — on the same yard you trained on.
  • FMCSA ELDT certificate + training record
    Federal Training Provider Registry submitted for you. CVTA-accredited record.
Financing available · VA benefits accepted · Employer billing
Talk to admissions about the path that fits your situation.
Start your application
Two programs · One school

Pick the program that matches your situation.

Accelerated gets you licensed fast. The full 4-week program gets you fully prepared. There's no wrong answer — just a right one for where you are.

2-Week Accelerated
Already hired · Get licensed fast
Most In-Depth
4-Week 160 Hour Class A
Full preparation · Most comprehensive
Total training time
80 hours
160+ hours
CDL skills test prep
On-site DMV testing
Unrestricted manual transmission
Available*
CVTA-accredited training record
Job placement assistance
In-depth ELDT classroom theory
8-speed + 13-speed transmissions
ELD training (Qualcomm, Rand McNally, PeopleNet)
Adverse weather + night driving
Tire chains + scale house training

* Manual transmission training in the 2-week accelerated program is available on request. Many employers prefer their hires trained on the automatic equipment they'll actually drive — talk to admissions about what your hiring company expects.

2026 cohort calendar

Pick the date that fits your start.

New cohorts every two weeks through November 13. Pick one that aligns with your employer's orientation date.

May · 2026
May 18 – May 29
Graduates Friday, May 29
June · 2026
Jun 1 – Jun 12
Graduates Friday, Jun 12
June · 2026
Jun 15 – Jun 26
Graduates Friday, Jun 26
June – July
Jun 29 – Jul 10
Graduates Friday, Jul 10
July · 2026
Jul 13 – Jul 24
Graduates Friday, Jul 24
July – Aug
Jul 27 – Aug 7
Graduates Friday, Aug 7
August · 2026
Aug 10 – Aug 21
Graduates Friday, Aug 21
August · 2026
Aug 24 – Sep 4
Graduates Friday, Sep 4

Cohorts continue every two weeks through November 13, 2026. Need a later date or a custom timeline? Call admissions: (906) 789-6311 →

For carriers + fleets

Hiring drivers? We're your training partner.

Built for the carriers, fleets, and employers that want their hires licensed fast — and back on the road earning.

For your hires

Predictable, fast, no duplication

  • Predictable 2-week timeline. Plan orientation around a Friday graduation.
  • Cohorts every 2 weeks. No long waits between start dates.
  • Fundamentals only. Your orientation handles the rest — no duplication.
  • On-site DMV testing. Drivers leave Friday with their CDL in hand.
For your operations

Custom pipelines that fit your hiring cadence

  • Custom hiring pipelines. Set up a regular cadence that fits your calendar.
  • Multi-driver cohorts. Train several drivers from your team in the same class.
  • Coordinated start dates. Align graduation with your orientation calendar.
  • Employer billing. Direct invoicing for hires — every arrangement is custom.

Talk to our team.

Whether you're hiring one driver or building a regular pipeline, we'll work with you to set up something that fits. Every arrangement is custom — give us a call.

Graduate reviews

What graduates say.

Real students, real outcomes. See all reviews →

★★★★★

"Midwest Truck Driving School is a great place to get your Class A CDL. From day one I could tell what a great organization MTDS is. Josh made the classroom work fun and easy to learn. Bill was my in-cab instructor and he made learning to drive a semi incredibly easy."

JH
John Hubert
Class A CDL Graduate · Google Review
★★★★★

"What an immersive class. Great instructors, awesome equipment, and a very engaging environment. Would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to achieve their CDL."

CK
Carter Kreski
Class A CDL Graduate · Google Review
★★★★★

"The school was thorough with their introduction and teaching of the material needed to get a Class A CDL. The instructors showed trust in the students giving them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and succeed in the course."

JB
Jonathan Baker
Class A CDL Graduate · Google Review
Straight answers

Questions, answered straight.

For the right student, yes. The federal ELDT requirement is proficiency-based, not hour-based — there's no minimum hour count, only a requirement that you demonstrate the skills. We've passed students in 80 hours for years. What 80 hours doesn't give you is the broader preparation a 4-week program does. You'll be licensed and eligible to drive — but plan on additional training from your employer to fully prepare for the job. See the 4-week program →
You'll need to get one before class starts. The CDL permit is required before behind-the-wheel training — that's federal, not our policy. Our admissions team can help you study using our online theory courses and walk you through scheduling at your local DMV. Many employers also help coordinate this. If you don't have your permit yet and need to fit a specific cohort, talk to admissions early so we can plan the timeline.
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, for two weeks — 10 training days total. Mornings are typically classroom or pre-trip. Afternoons are range or road. Weekends are off, but plan to use them for self-drilling and review. This is a full commitment for two weeks — not a part-time program.
Yes. We work directly with carriers, fleets, and employers — and every arrangement is custom. If you're hired but unsure how billing works, have your HR contact reach out to our main office at (906) 789-6311 and we'll work through it with you.
Yes. We're an approved VA training facility and accept GI Bill benefits. We also offer financing through partner lenders for qualifying students. Talk to admissions on your call and we'll walk through your specific options.
Our Escanaba, Michigan campus at 1519 North 26th Street. Out-of-area students often arrange short-term housing nearby — our admissions team can point you to options. The campus has a full training yard, classroom facilities, and on-site DMV testing.
We submit your TPR, hand you your test results documentation, and you're cleared to drive. Most graduates leave Friday with their CDL and start their job orientation the following Monday. Job placement isn't part of the accelerated program — this track is built for drivers who already have an employer lined up. If you need placement assistance, our 4-week program includes it.

2 weeks to your Class A CDL.

Apply for the next cohort or talk to admissions to make sure this program is the right fit for your situation.

CVTA accredited VA approved FMCSA ELDT certified On-site DMV
P.S. — For drivers

If you're not sure whether the accelerated program is the right fit, talk to admissions before you apply. We'll ask a few questions about your employment situation and tell you honestly which program makes sense — accelerated, full 4-week, or neither. We've been doing this since 1998. We'd rather lose a sale than send you home with a credential you can't use.

P.P.S. — For employers + carriers

If you have multiple drivers to license, we'll work with you on a custom setup — coordinated cohorts, aligned start dates, and a regular pipeline if that's what you need. Call our main office at (906) 789-6311 or email info@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com. Every arrangement is custom to fit how you hire.

Start your application

Tell us about your situation.

A few quick questions and admissions will reach out — same day — to confirm the right program for you and lock in your cohort.

Next cohort starts May 18 Talk to admissions before applying
Apply now →