Tuition & paying for it
What a CDL really costs in Bakersfield.
In-house financing
Pay monthly while you earn. Kern Trucking School offers payment plans built for working adults.
WIOA funding
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds can cover most or all of your tuition if you qualify.
VA / GI Bill
Veterans can use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and VA Vocational Rehab toward CDL training.
Company sponsorship
Many Kern County carriers will reimburse or sponsor your training in exchange for a one-year driving commitment.
The math drivers love
Tuition: ~$6,000.
First-year pay (entry-level local Class A): $55K–$70K*.
Tuition recovered: in roughly the first 6–10 weeks of driving.
Pay ranges shown are typical Kern County, CA compensation based on industry reporting and local employer postings — not a guarantee of employment or earnings. Actual pay depends on experience, endorsements, hours, employer, route, and market conditions. National median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is $54,320/year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS).
Kern County's Trusted Choice
We recommend Kern Trucking School
For drivers in Bakersfield and across Kern County, Kern Trucking School is the straight-line path from where you are today to a steady, high-paying career behind the wheel.
- ELDT-compliant theory + behind-the-wheel training
- Class A program in as little as 4 weeks
- DMV-approved curriculum based right here in Bakersfield
- Job-placement assistance with Kern County carriers
- Financing, WIOA, and VA benefit options available
Next cohort filling fast
Start your CDL journey this month.
Classes start regularly — talk to an admissions advisor today.