Truck and Bus Driver
Program Summary
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles. Includes instruction in operating gas, diesel, or electrically-powered vehicles; loading and unloading cargo or passengers; reporting delays or accidents on the road; verifying load against shipping papers; arranging transportation for personnel; and keeping records of receipts and fares.
Discover More About a Degree in Truck and Bus Driver

Truck and bus driving programs teach individuals how to manage and operate these vehicles. Due to the size and weight of Buses and Trucks, and the awkward turns and various other issues with driving large machinery, licensing is required to be able to drive a truck. Schools that specialize in such education as well as local community colleges may have the courses necessary to train and prepare an individual for a highly lucrative career in driving.
Though a formal education may not be necessary to enter the industry, some employers require at least two years of related experience or a minimum of a high school education. As the industry becomes more regulated the demands for trained individuals will increase. This will particularly be true for interstate drivers who may in the future be required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to take courses in truck driving.
An education in truck driving is valuable for multiple reasons, it educates individuals on how to operate a large vehicle in a variety of situations, provides an education in maintenance, allows access to vehicles for practice and helps individuals develop skills necessary for successful transit through training by experienced instructors.
A truck driving curriculum may include:
- Basic Operation
- Safety Practices
- Advanced Operation
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Non-Vehicular Activity
Trucks and Buses, as heavy vehicles, require a lot of attention and patience. A truck driver must be able to maintain his or her vehicle, operate it with established safety standards and arrive to his or her destination in a timely manner. The cost to entry is minimal, and work hours are varied.
Truck driving is a dangerous profession, especially for interstate truck drivers, as fatigue can set in unexpectedly. Individuals pursuing a career in truck driving must have good hand eye coordination, excellent hearing, strong vision, and in good physical shape. A truck driver must also recognize when rest is needed, pulling over or finding a rest stop in order to recover.
Truck drivers are in high demand due to the limited amount of drivers due the dangerous nature of the work. OVer the next decade demand is expected to grow for truck drivers as more goods will need transit across short and long distances. Some jobs may be lost to rail transport, and others may be cut due to better tracking technology creating more efficient routes and reducing the need for large fleets of trucks. Intrastate jobs should see a much larger increase as they are most efficient form of delivery for short distances.
A bus driver will have more standard hours, though will usually make less than a truck driver, though many of the skills necessary for operating a large vehicle are the same. Bus drivers typically operate on specific routes, and have set periods for breaks along those routes. A bus driver will be responsible for him or herself and the passengers the bus carries, and as such an emphasis of safety is placed on bus driving that exceeds that of truck driving.
The average salary for a truck driver is approximately $38,000 per year, for a bus driver it is about $29,000. The job growth rate for truck drivers is expected to be faster than average for the foreseeable future, for bus drivers it is expected to remain about average.
Individuals interested in bus or truck driving may also be interested in auto repair or diesel repair.
Top Schools That Offer a Truck and Bus Driver Degree or Program
4-Year Colleges and Universities
| Baker College of Flint | |
- Flint, MI
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| College of Central Florida | |
- Ocala, FL
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| Florida State College at Jacksonville | |
- Jacksonville, FL
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| Indian River State College | |
- Fort Pierce, FL
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| Navajo Technical College | |
- Crownpoint, NM
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| Palm Beach State College | |
- Lake Worth, FL
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| Peninsula College | |
- Port Angeles, WA
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| Seattle Community College - South Campus | |
- Seattle, WA
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| University of Northwestern Ohio | |
- Lima, OH
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| Vincennes University | |
- Vincennes, IN
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Community Colleges
| Acadiana Technical College - Lafayette | |
- Lafayette, LA
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| Albany Technical College | |
- Albany, GA
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| Altamaha Technical College | |
- Jesup, GA
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| Arkansas State University - Newport | |
- Newport, AR
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| Bates Technical College | |
- Tacoma, WA
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| Bevill State Community College | |
- Jasper, AL
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| Cape Fear Community College | |
- Wilmington, NC
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| Central New Mexico Community College | |
- Albuquerque, NM
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| Chippewa Valley Technical College | |
- Eau Claire, WI
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| City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| City Colleges of Chicago - Olive - Harvey College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| College of Western Idaho | |
- Nampa, ID
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| Davidson County Community College | |
- Thomasville, NC
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| Eastern Iowa Community College District | |
- Davenport, IA
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| Fort Scott Community College | |
- Fort Scott, KS
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| Fox Valley Technical College | |
- Appleton, WI
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| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | |
- Rome, GA
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| Georgia Piedmont Technical College | |
- Clarkston, GA
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| Grays Harbor College | |
- Aberdeen, WA
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| Greenville Technical College | |
- Greenville, SC
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| H Councill Trenholm State Technical College | |
- Montgomery, AL
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| Hagerstown Community College | |
- Hagerstown, MD
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| Hawkeye Community College | |
- Waterloo, IA
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| Illinois Valley Community College | |
- Oglesby, IL
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| John Wood Community College | |
- Quincy, IL
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| Johnston Community College | |
- Smithfield, NC
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| Lansing Community College | |
- Lansing, MI
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| Lee College | |
- Baytown, TX
| Tuition and Fees
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| Lincoln Land Community College | |
- Springfield, IL
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| Middle Georgia Technical College | |
- Warner Robins, GA
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| Moultrie Technical College | |
- Moultrie, GA
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| Oconee Fall Line Technical College | |
- Sandersville, GA
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| Ogeechee Technical College | |
- Statesboro, GA
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| Pima Community College | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| Salt Lake Community College | |
- Salt Lake City, UT
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| San Juan College | |
- Farmington, NM
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| Savannah Technical College | |
- Savannah, GA
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| South Central Louisiana Technical College - Young Memorial Campus | |
- Morgan City, LA
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| Southeast Community College | |
- Lincoln, NE
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| Southern Crescent Technical College | |
- Griffin, GA
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| Uintah Basin Applied Technology College | |
- Roosevelt, UT
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| Waukesha County Technical College | |
- Pewaukee, WI
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| West Georgia Technical College | |
- Waco, GA
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| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | |
- Valdosta, GA
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Technical Colleges
| Miami Lakes Educational Center | |
- Miami Lakes, FL
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| Mid Florida Tech | |
- Orlando, FL
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| Ridge Career Center | |
- Winter Haven, FL
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| Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville | |
- Nashville, TN
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| Washington - Holmes Technical Center | |
- Chipley, FL
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| William T. Mcfatter Technical Center | |
- Davie, FL
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Career Colleges
| Advanced Technology Institute | |
- Virginia Beach, VA
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| All - State Career School | |
- Baltimore, MD
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| All - State Career School | |
- Lester, PA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| All-State Career School-Pittsburgh | |
- West Mifflin, PA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| American Institute of Technology | |
- Phoenix, AZ
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Apollo Career Center | |
- Lima, OH
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| California Career School | |
- Anaheim, CA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology | |
- Pleasant Gap, PA
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| Central Technology Center | |
- Drumright, OK
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| Cet - El Centro | |
- El Centro, CA
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| Cet - El Paso | |
- El Paso, TX
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Cet - Gilroy | |
- Gilroy, CA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Cet - Oxnard | |
- Oxnard, CA
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| Cet - Santa Maria | |
- Santa Maria, CA
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| Crowleys Ridge Technical Institute | |
- Forrest City, AR
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| Diesel Driving Academy - Baton Rouge | |
- Baton Rouge, LA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Diesel Driving Academy-Shreveport | |
- Shreveport, LA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Flagler Technical Institute | |
- Palm Coast, FL
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| Fred W Eberle Technical Center | |
- Buckhannon, WV
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| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | |
- Altoona, PA
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| Hamrick School | |
- Medina, OH
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Hds Truck Driving Institute | |
- Tucson, AZ
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| James Rumsey Technical Institute | |
- Martinsburg, WV
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| National Tractor Trailer School Inc-Buffalo | |
- Buffalo, NY
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| National Tractor Trailer School Inc-Liverpool | |
- Liverpool, NY
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| New Castle School of Trades | |
- New Castle, PA
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| New England Tractor Trailer Training School | |
- Pawtucket, RI
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut | |
- Somers, CT
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts | |
- North Andover, MA
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| North American Trade Schools | |
- Baltimore, MD
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| Northwest Technical Institute | |
- Springdale, AR
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| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics | |
- West Mifflin, PA
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| Schuylkill Technology Center | |
- Frackville, PA
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| Southwest Applied Technology Center | |
- Cedar City, UT
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| Star Truck Driving School-Bensenville | |
- Bensenville, IL
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Star Truck Driving School-Hickory Hills | |
- Hickory Hills, IL
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Tdds Technical Institute | |
- Lake Milton, OH
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Twin Rivers Adult School | |
- North Highlands, CA
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Vantage Career Center | |
- Van Wert, OH
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| York County School of Technology Practical Nursing | |
- York, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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