How We Ranked CDL Schools in Houston, Texas for 2026
Houston gives students several distinct ways to prepare for Class A work: a public-college continuing-education route, a longer private-school format with published driving hours, and a shorter national-school format. That makes calendar and price comparisons more useful than a simple list of company names.
The August 5, 2026 FMCSA data contained 29 Houston registry entries meeting the full Class A criteria. This page ranks two Houston schools with full Class A registration and program-specific sources. A behind-the-wheel-only location stays visible as an additional option without receiving a rank.
Houston applicants new to commercial driving can first work through the permit-to-first-job truck driver roadmap. Compare each course against the full Class A program requirements before choosing a format.
2026 comparison
Ranked CDL schools in Houston, Texas
Equal scores share a rank. Tied providers are ordered alphabetically.
Every ranked school has full Class A theory, range, and public-road registration at the listed location.
Rank
#1
Info score
90/100
Houston, TX
Houston City College
555 Community College Drive, Houston, TX 77013Houston City College, the public college formerly named Houston Community College, runs its CDL programs from the Northeast Campus at 555 Community College Drive. Houston students can choose the 286-contact-hour Class A Occupational Skills Award or a 120-hour Class B weekend certificate. The clearest distinction is scheduling: Class A has intensive day and longer evening or weekend calendars, while Class B meets Saturdays and Sundays. Both publish separate tuition and prerequisites, making the license-class choice concrete before enrollment.
- Published price
- $4,350 total program tuition
- Hours / credits
- 286 minimum contact hours
- Program length
- 5 weeks by day or 10 weeks on the weekend or evening schedule
- Schedule
- Day classes meet Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend and evening options are also published.
Why 90/100: 90/100 reflects program-specific class a source (+20), published class a price (+25), published class a hours or credit load (+15), published class a duration (+15), and published class a schedule (+15).
See all six scoring factorsRank
#2
Info score
85/100
Houston, TX
SAGE Truck Driving Schools - Houston South
8866 Gulf Freeway, Suite 335, Houston, TX 77017United Education Institute operates SAGE Houston South as a private, Texas-approved school at 8866 Gulf Freeway. The campus publishes a 150-hour Class A entry route, a 40-hour Class B course, and a 40-hour refresher for experienced drivers. Its main decision point is pace and purpose: the Class A course spans about 12 weeks, while the Class B and refresher options run in shorter blocks. Catalog tuition excludes several permit, medical, testing, and licensing expenses.
- Published price
- $4,995 tuition
- Hours / credits
- 150 clock hours, including 52 behind the wheel
- Program length
- Approximately 12 weeks
Why 85/100: 85/100 reflects program-specific class a source (+20), published class a price (+25), published class a hours or credit load (+15), published class a duration (+15), and sourced funding route (+10).
See all six scoring factorsOutside the ranking
Other local CDL schools worth checking
These schools are outside the ranking because the exact training address does not meet both scoring gates: full Class A theory, range, and road registration plus a public program-specific school source. Their cards still include verified training scope, program details, operator context, and questions to confirm.
Houston, TX
Class A range + road scopeRoadmaster Drivers School of Houston
1224 Normandy Street, Houston, TX 77015Werner Enterprises owns Roadmaster Drivers School, including the Normandy Street Houston campus. This location offers an automatic-transmission Class A program built around classroom preparation, range exercises, trailer coupling, backing, trip planning, and public-road driving. Roadmaster describes the course as about one month. Students comparing Houston options should weigh the faster calendar against the automatic-only testing path, which affects the transmission restriction on the CDL. Employer reimbursement and financial assistance depend on their separate terms.
- Program length
- About one month
Why it is outside the ranking:This exact federal entry covers Class A range and public-road training. Ranked schools must register theory, range, and road training at the same address.
Before enrollment
How to Choose a CDL School in Houston, Texas
Use the Houston CDL training timeline to plan a cohort around permit and testing time. Before signing, check every quoted item against the complete CDL school cost breakdown.
Compare contact hours
Houston programs in this shortlist publish substantially different clock-hour totals. Ask how classroom, range, and individual road time are counted.
Confirm the training site
Large providers can operate more than one campus. Match the address on your enrollment agreement to the TPR location and the schedule you were quoted.
Read repayment terms
If a carrier or employer offers reimbursement, separate the school price from the work commitment and the amount due if employment ends early.
How Much Do Truck Drivers Make in Texas?
BLS estimated a $56,290 median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Texas in May 2025. The state estimate covers wage-and-salary workers across experience levels and excludes self-employed workers. It is context for comparing a career path, not a school outcome or entry-level offer. Because this figure covers the state rather than one city, use the Texas truck driver salary entry as broad job-market context for Houston, Texas.
Questions about CDL schools in Houston, Texas
How many Houston TPR entries met the full Class A criteria?
What does the Houston ranking score measure?
Can I compare Houston CDL tuition directly?
Official Sources for CDL Schools in Houston, Texas
- FMCSA Training Provider Registry data, August 5, 2026
- Texas Workforce Commission CDL course directory
- FMCSA guidance for selecting a training provider
Provider registration checked against FMCSA Training Provider Registry data dated 2026-08-05. Prices and schedules should be confirmed for the intended cohort.