160 Driving Academy
Independent schoolNationwide
Independent CDL school chain with 150+ locations and an unusually wide range of financing options, including an income-share plan.
Pay ladder
Estimated annual pay by career stage — read the note under each bar, not just the number.
Graduates cited as earning an average salary of $65,000/year, per the school's own marketing; no CPM breakdown given.
Not applicable — a school, not an employer; pay depends on which carrier a graduate joins. Shown as a rough industry ballpark for context.
Not applicable — a school, not an employer; pay depends on which carrier a graduate joins. Shown as a rough industry ballpark for context.
Not found on pages reviewed. Industry-wide owner-operator gross pay commonly runs roughly $80,000-$180,000+/year before truck, fuel, and insurance costs — a general ballpark, not specific to any one carrier.
Operations & benefits
- Fleet size
- —
- Not applicable — 160 Driving Academy is an independent CDL training school, not a carrier, and doesn't operate a fleet.
- Route types
- Not a carrier; graduates go on to long-haul (OTR), local delivery, and specialized freight roles depending on which partner carrier hires them, though placement availability varies by campus/region.
- Pay structure & benefits
- Not applicable — pay depends on the hiring carrier. 160's own marketing cites an average graduate starting salary around $57,440-$65,000/year, with no CPM breakdown given.
CDL program cost
$5,000
160-hour course (40 classroom, 120 behind-the-wheel), ~4 weeks, 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio. Tuition generally $4,000-$6,000, varies across 150+ locations in 44 states.
Options include full upfront payment, a 3-week installment plan, WIOA grants (can cover up to 100% for qualifying applicants, no repayment), Climb Credit / Liberty Career Finance loans, an Edly income-share agreement (pay after employment begins), and a Swift Transportation employer-sponsorship option at select locations.