Commercial Driver’s Training - Smart Investment or a Waste of Resources? - July 2017

Sep 18, 2026

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The report examines why local job seekers pursue Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training through the public workforce development system’s tuition subsidy. Findings draw on nearly 150 participants in focus groups and a two-year review of subsidy use. While evidence shows strong current demand and quick placement with higher wages for many completers, the document questions whether the return on public investment will persist as technology such as self-driving cars may reduce future need.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

The Issue: Training Choices and Resource Use

Tuition Subsidy and CDL Preference

Long-Term Outlook and Automation Concerns

The Evidence: Demand and Wage Context

Job Postings and Occupational Demand

Expected Growth Through 2026

Job Seeker Motivations for CDL Training

Driving as an Accessible, High-Paying Career

CDL as a Path for Career Change

Employment Stability and Earnings Potential

Commercial Driver’s Training: Smart Investment or a Waste of Resources? July 2017 The issue: A significant number of local job seekers invest in skills we know will not be in demand for long. One of the benefits job seekers can access through the public workforce development system is a tuition subsidy for training in high-priority occupations. Those whose skills are no longer in demand or no longer sufficient for career advancement or new opportunities typically receive the tuition subsidy. In the last two years, about 360 job seekers (about 5 percent of those we serve) sought the tuition subsidy. Of them, half opted to use the funding to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) . This trend in job seekers’ preferences for CDL training is not a local trend; rather, workforce boards across Pennsylvania and in other states share similar statistics. The trend suggests job seekers perceive CDL training as a viable means to employment stability and upward mobility. Our experience tells us they are right. A majority of those who complete the training secure new employment quickly and earn more than they had previously. From their perspective and ours, this is a smart investment – for now. But how long will this investment continue to pay off? What will happen when selfdriving cars make the skills of commercial drivers obsolete? This report explores the motivations of job seekers pursuing CDL training. The insights were collected in focus group sessions with nearly 150 local job seekers. The report draws attention to reasons so many people consider pursuing a career that will likely disappear before too long. More importantly, it raises the question as to whether we should limit public investment in an occupation that presents a strong path to stable employment and economic mobility today but does not have a strong long-term outlook. The evidence: The current demand for CDL credentials is undisputable. About 13 percent of all online job postings list a CDL as a required or preferred credential. Among the top occupations for which a CDL is required or highly preferred are truck drivers, diesel engine mechanics, and heavy equipment operators. In 2016, these occupations represented 25,206 jobs in our region, 3 percent higher than the national average. The median wage of these occupations is $19 . 10/hour and none of them required more than a high school diploma. By 2026, these occupations are expected to grow by almost 3 percent. Job seekers pursuing CDL training offer three reasons to justify their choice: 1) Driving is an accessible career that pays well. Most people seeking to take advantage of training funds from the public workforce system perceive truck driving as lucrative and in high demand. They say: “There’s such a demand for CDL drivers that to me, it was just a natural course to find something else that’s needed and that will keep expanding.” “I have a lot of friends who are in this type of business. They are successful and they are doing well for their age right now.” For some of these job seekers, a criminal record has limited their employability. Many of them believe that CDL credentials can outweigh criminal records and other barriers to employment. They say: “I don’t want to live paycheck to paycheck. When you get into a cycle of living on a low level financially, it does something to you and to people around you. I want to be better others and myself. I think that’s through the CDL. As I was talking to some people, they said if you get a CDL, your past doesn’t matter. Employers don’t care if you have a record.” “I was injured at my job, so I cannot return to my previous job. I’m just starting the job search process, and I know it’s going to be a tough process because of my criminal background. I already know the competition out herefor jobs, so I am looking at driving —warehouse, CDL driving, or, something like that.” Additionally, some of the job seekers interested in a C

FAQs

Why do many job seekers pursue CDL training through the tuition subsidy?

They view CDL training as a way to gain skills that can quickly translate into employment, and the subsidy helps cover training costs for high-priority occupations.

What does the report say about current demand for CDL credentials?

Demand is described as undisputable, with CDL listed in a significant share of online job postings and the associated occupations expected to grow over the coming years.

What concern does the report raise about the long-term value of CDL training?

It questions whether public investment will continue paying off if self-driving technologies make commercial driving skills obsolete.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Graffin