CDL Trucking Schools Florida 2026: Real Schools

📅 Updated July 2026 📌 Source: FMCSA TPR, Florida colleges ⏱ 9 min read

Florida's CDL school landscape includes real, verifiable outcome data most guides never dig up — actual graduation rates, actual placement rates, and a genuine statewide private chain with 10 named locations. Here's what's real, named, and verified.

In This Guide

Verification Checks — Do These First

1. FMCSA Training Provider Registry (TPR) status

Search at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov. Required since February 7, 2022. Unlisted schools bar you from CDL testing regardless of instruction quality.

2. Real graduation and placement rates

Ask directly. Valencia College publicly reports 99% graduation and 87% placement — a real benchmark to compare any other Florida school against.

3. Who actually delivers the training

Several Florida colleges partner with private companies like FleetForce rather than running CDL training entirely in-house. Ask which is the case, since enrollment and scheduling may go through the partner, not the college directly.

FleetForce Truck Driving School — Statewide Chain

FleetForce is a real, named, statewide private CDL school chain — established in 1981, licensed by the Florida Department of Education, the Committee for Independent Education, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

DetailInformation
HeadquartersSarasota/Bradenton
LocationsWinter Haven, Venice, Palm City, Niceville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Ocala, New Port Richey
Planned expansionLake City, Gainesville
College partnershipsBroward College, Daytona State College
Program length4 weeks / 160 hours (1 week classroom, 3 weeks truck)
FleetForce's college partnerships are a real, distinctive model. At Broward College, students enroll through the college and complete training via FleetForce, launched with a $2.6 million state grant plus $1 million in matching funds from Broward College itself. This structure means you may be dealing with both the college and FleetForce during enrollment — ask which one handles what.

Named Florida Community Colleges

SchoolRegionNotes
Broward CollegeSouth Florida (Fort Lauderdale)4-week program via FleetForce partnership. $2.6M state + $1M matching funds. Educates 60,000 students yearly across 3 campuses and 6 centers.
Valencia CollegeCentral Florida (Orlando)99% graduation, 87% placement, $21.39/hr starting wage. Only third-party DPS testing facility in Orange and Osceola counties. 1,700+ regional CDL job openings cited.
Daytona State CollegeEast Central FloridaNew program via FleetForce partnership at its Advanced Technology College. 4-week/160-hour format.
Northwest Florida State CollegePanhandle (DeFuniak Springs)Existing program expanded with $1.5M state funding, serving up to 250 students in year one.
Florida Gateway CollegeNorth Central Florida (Lake City)One-on-one instruction (1 student per truck). Real cited starting salaries: $38,882–$68,007. Contact: CDL@fgc.edu.
Miami Dade CollegeMiami-Dade CountyCDL training through Continuing Education (ce.mdc.edu/cdl) and a dedicated CDLA program.
Sheridan Technical CollegeFort Lauderdale (Broward)320-hour program: 9-10 weeks full-time day, or 16-17 weeks evening. Financial assistance available via Broward County Community Action Agency.
Valencia's third-party testing status is a genuine convenience. Being the only third-party DPS testing facility in Orange and Osceola counties means Central Florida students training there may avoid a separate testing appointment elsewhere — worth asking about directly if you're in that region.

Red Flags to Avoid

Choosing Between Options

Your PriorityConsider
Best documented outcomesValencia College (99%/87% real published rates)
Lowest student-to-truck ratioFlorida Gateway College (1:1)
Statewide chain with many locationsFleetForce (9 current locations, 2 planned)
South Florida / Miami-DadeMiami Dade College or Broward College
Evening/weekend flexibilitySheridan Technical College's 16-17 week evening track

Study While You Compare Schools

Whichever school you choose, the knowledge tests are the same statewide. Practice free now.

Start Florida CDL Practice Tests Full Cost Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FleetForce Truck Driving School and where are its locations?
Established 1981, licensed by 3 Florida agencies. Locations: Winter Haven, Venice, Palm City, Niceville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Ocala, New Port Richey, plus planned Lake City and Gainesville sites. Partners with Broward College and Daytona State College.
What are Valencia College's real CDL outcomes?
99% graduation rate, 87% placement rate, $21.39/hr starting wage. Also the only third-party DPS testing facility in Orange and Osceola counties.
What is Florida Gateway College's CDL program known for?
One-on-one instruction with one student per truck. Real starting salaries reported at $38,882-$68,007.
Does my Florida CDL school need to be FMCSA-registered?
Yes, since February 7, 2022. Verify at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov before enrolling anywhere.
Which Florida colleges received state funding in 2026?
Broward College ($2.6M + $1M matching), Daytona State College ($1.3M), Northwest Florida State College ($1.5M), and Valencia College ($1.3M).

Sources: FMCSA Training Provider Registry; Florida Department of Education; Broward College, Valencia College, Florida Gateway College, Miami Dade College, Sheridan Technical College published program pages; FleetForce Truck Driving School. Last verified July 2026.