CDL Schools USA Index  /  Virginia  /  Richmond

Best CDL Schools in Richmond (2026)

An independent, government-verified ranking of 38 CDL training schools across the Richmond metro — scored on FMCSA verification, funding access, reputation, and the program factors students actually search for.
◆ The answer

The top-ranked CDL school in Richmond is CDS TRACTOR TRAILER TRAINING - WOODFORD — FMCSA ELDT-verified. Of 38 schools indexed, 2 are verified against the federal FMCSA Training Provider Registry, 0 accept WIOA workforce funding, and 0 are approved for VA / GI Bill benefits. Verified tuition runs $0–$0.

Live · FMCSA + WIOA + VA + Yelp · as of 2026-07-29 · reproducible methodology below
Schools indexed
38
FMCSA verified
2 (5%)
WIOA-funded
0
VA / GI Bill
0
Onsite testing
0
Avg rating
—
Find your school by what matters to you

$0 tuition possible

WIOA workforce-funded
  1. none yet

For veterans

VA / GI Bill approved
  1. none yet

Highest rated

by real students
  1. none yet

Trains on manual

avoid the auto-only restriction
  1. none yet

Second chance

record-friendly · school-stated
  1. none yet
Full index ranking · Richmond
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Government (50) Reputation (22) Student factors (20) Transparency (8)
#TierSchool & contactVerified badgesRatingScore ▾
1 C CDS TRACTOR TRAILER TRAINING - WOODFORD
Woodford
+1 540-582-8200
✓ FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 9%34.7
2 C 160 Driving Academy - Richmond
Ashland
✓ FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 9%33.2
3 E Safe Smart CDL Training
+1 713-816-0967
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
4 E ELDT Academy, LLC - Travelling CDL Instructors
+1 855-353-8235
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
5 E The academy
+1 410-240-6201
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
6 E Bell CDL INSTRUCTION
+1 304-888-1546
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
7 E 1st Premier Trucking Academy
+1 601-658-9525
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
8 E 1 Mile At A Time Trucking & Training LLC
+1 504-708-9541
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
9 E Precision Driver Training LLC.
+1 540-876-0289
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
10 E Cheapest ELDT only 2500 for CDL
+1 609-666-4907
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
11 E ELDT Solutions - On Site CDL Training
+1 319-389-9178
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
12 E Eclipse DOT
+1 970-749-9449
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
13 E The CDL Coach
+1 470-536-8833
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 3 endo
 unrated
data 0%12.5
14 E Five Star Driver Training and Safety Consulting
+1 563-210-9936
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 0%11.5
15 E Buchanan County Public Schools
+1 276-935-4551
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 0%11.5
16 E Way The Bald Rolls
+1 336-264-4421
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 0%11.5
17 E Advanced CDL Solutions LLC
+1 816-547-9011
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 2 endo
 unrated
data 0%11.5
18 E Bussard Enterprises, LLC
+1 443-286-0889
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 1 endo
 unrated
data 0%10.5
19 E ALS
+1 304-561-8787
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 1 endo
 unrated
data 0%10.5
20 E G and O Transport LLC
+1 888-320-4744
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 1 endo
 unrated
data 0%10.5
21 E Spencer Summitt, LLC
+1 304-389-0510
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite test✓ 1 endo
 unrated
data 0%10.5
22 E Kulish III Enterprises
+1 412-310-0263
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
23 E 5 STAR CDL TRAINING LLC
Richmond
+1 804-447-7076
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
24 E Richmond Public Schools Pupal Transportation
Richmond
+1 804-218-0557
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
25 E Swift Driving Academy VA
Henrico
+1 804-956-6871
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
26 E Ancora for Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
Henrico
+1 866-937-1850
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
27 E 160 Driving Academy - Richmond Classroom
Midlothian
+1 804-292-2505
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
28 E TJ and Friends Smith System CDL Training
Midlothian
+1 804-501-9209
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
29 E CDS TRACTOR TRAILER TRAINING
Chester
+1 844-654-2235
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
30 E TJ and Friends Smith System CDL Training School
Doswell
+1 804-501-9209
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
31 E Petersburg City Public Schools
Petersburg
+1 804-720-8097
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
32 E Road Safety CDL Training School / Petersburg
Petersburg
+1 804-861-0151
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
33 E West Point Public Schools
West Point
+1 804-843-4368
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
34 E King & Queen Public Schools
Mattaponi
+1 804-785-5981
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
35 E Rappahannock Community College
Tappahannock
+1 804-725-8227
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
36 E SVCC Truck Driver Training School
Blackstone
+1 434-292-1650
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
37 E Rappahannock Community College/Glenns
Saluda
+1 804-758-6730
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
38 E Kenston Forest School
Blackstone
+1 434-292-8790
FMCSAWIOAVAOnsite testendo?
 unrated
data 0%9.5
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Questions students ask
What is the best CDL school in ${MET}?
By our composite index, CDS TRACTOR TRAILER TRAINING - WOODFORD ranks first — FMCSA-verified. Rankings weight federal verification, funding access, reputation, and program fit.
Which Houston CDL schools accept WIOA funding?
0 indexed schools are on the Texas ETPL and accept WIOA workforce grants, including .
Which Houston CDL schools are VA / GI Bill approved?
0 are VA-approved for veterans, including . Verified against the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Are these schools FMCSA-approved?
2 of 38 (5%) are verified on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — required to legally train CDL drivers. Schools on the FMCSA removed list are excluded.
How is the ranking calculated?
A 100-point weighted composite: government verification 50, reputation 22, student-fit factors 20, transparency 8. Full weights and sources are published on the page. Pass-rate and placement claims are never scored.
How current is this ranking?
Refreshed quarterly from live government and review sources. This snapshot is as of 2026-07-29.
Methodology · Cited · Reproducible The CDL Schools USA Index — 100-point weighted composite. Legitimacy-weighted, because ELDT registration is federally required to train CDL drivers.
Government Trust Spine · 50 — FMCSA ELDT 25 · clean standing 8 · WIOA 7 · VA GI Bill 6 · onsite testing 4
Reputation · 22 — rating 14 · review volume 5 · sentiment 3
Student factors · 20 — manual 4 · endorsements 5 · placement 4 · financing 3 · lodging 2 · type 2
Transparency · 8 — verified contact 3 · claimed 3 · completeness 2
Sources: FMCSA Training Provider Registry · state WIOA/ETPL lists · VA GI Bill · Yelp. Pass-rate & placement claims are shown as context only, never scored (FTC fabrication risk). Coverage: 38 schools within 50 mi of Richmond; average data completeness 0% and rising as collection continues. Refreshed quarterly.
Cite this ranking: “CDL Schools USA Index — Richmond (2026),” CDL Schools USA, as of 2026-07-29. Underlying data available on request.
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