No matter where in the trucking industry you want your career to be, little can be accomplished without a good education and a solid base of knowledge and skill.
In South Carolina, you can’t say there’s a lack of choice: as many as 19 trucking schools are available in the state.
With surprisingly low tuition ($4,156 at average) and solid scholarships (avg. $598), covering your education expenses shouldn’t be too difficult, especially with the help of a loan ($4,987 on average in South Carolina).
South Carolina Trucking Association doesn’t discriminate between truck driver and diesel mechanic students, both categories are welcome to join and apply for a scholarship.
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Finding Orientation among South Carolina Trucking Schools
Whether you study full time or you are learning in parallel to your job – South Carolina schools have programs suited to every demand.
Regarding truck driving, it’s best to give an example: SAGE Truck Driving School offers a 2,150 hour-long course in driving basics, an advanced tractor-trailer program, and a course to refresh your driving skill.
SAGE Truck Driving School doesn’t leave its students feeling isolated: various help programs are available during education, and even after you finish, SAGE can help you find a suitable workplace.
For diesel technology students, options are similar to those in most other states: the choice is between the one-year-long basic program and a two-year-long Associate’s degree.
Some schools only offer one of these programs; for example, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College has a one year 16-credit diesel program.
25 Top CDL Schools in South Carolina
| School Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken Technical College | 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829 | 803-593-9231 |
| Central Carolina Tech | 506 N Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150 | 803-778-1961 |
| Denmark Technical College | 1126 Soloman Blatt Blvd, Denmark, SC 29042, USA | 803-793-5176 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 2715 W Lucas St, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-661-8324 |
| Greenville Technical College | 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607 | 864-250-8000 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | 2050 Hwy 501 E, Conway, SC 29528 | 843-347-3186 |
| KDS Commercial Driver Training Academy LLC | 4587 Old Hickory Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720 | 803-283-3250 |
| Midlands Technical College | 1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia, SC 29170 | 803-738-8324 |
| Miller-Motte Technical College – Charleston, SC | 8085 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406 | 888-314-7780 |
| Miller-Motte Technical College – Conway, SC | 2451 Highway 501 East, Conway, SC 29528 | 888-314-7780 |
| Northeastern Technical College | 1201 Chesterfield Hwy., Cheraw, SC 29520 | 843-921-6900 |
| Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College | 3250 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118 | 803-536-0311 |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 3791 Allendale-Fairfax Hwy, Fairfax, SC 29827, USA | 803-584-2226 |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 7293 Peppermill Parkway, North Charleston, SC 29418 | 843-746-9387 |
| Palmetto Training Inc | 1085 Thunderbolt Dr., Walterboro, SC 29488 | 843-346-0166 |
| Piedmont Technical College | 620 N Emerald Rd., Greenwood, SC 29648 | 800-868-5528 |
| SAGE | 277 Dooley Road, Lexington, SC 29073 | 866-452-5157 |
| Spartanburg Community College | 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 | 864-592-4600 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | 921 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902, USA | 843-525-8211 |
| Tri-County Technical College | 7900 Hwy 76, Pendleton, SC 29670 | 864-646-1700 |
| Truck Driver Institute | 3425 Lancaster Hwy., Richburg, SC 29729 | 803-789-5399 |
| Union County Adult Education | 517 E Main St, Union, SC 29379, USA | 864-429-1770 |
| Williamsburg Technical College | 601 MLK Jr Ave., Kingstree, SC 29556 | 843-355-4110 |
| XTRA Mile Driving Training Inc | 855 U.S. 15, Bishopville, SC 29010 | 803-484-6313 |
| York Technical College | 452 S Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29730 | 803-327-8000 |
At a Glance: Trucking Schools in South Carolina
| Total Schools: | 25 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Programs: | 10 |
| Graduate Programs: | 4 |
| Average Acceptance Rate: | 57% |
| Average Tuition Cost: | $9,628 |
| Average Loan Amount: | $6,383 |
| Average Scholarship Award: | $4,071 |
| Average Classroom Size: | 17 Students |
Employment Chances in South Carolina
Finishing an education course can always help you boost your employment chances in fields compatible with your area of study.
For truckers, working for a trucking company is the most common choice, but leasing centers, repair shops, and truck dealerships can also offer suitable jobs.
Beacon Transport, C.R. England, and A&R Transport are among the biggest trucking employers in South Carolina.
With a positive labor market predictions, there is little reason to fear unemployment; there will be an increase of 20% in demand for truck drivers, and 13% for diesel mechanics (according to O*NET).
Truck Driver’s Salary in South Carolina
According to statistics, an average truck driver’s salary in this state currently stands at $40,899.
Below you can find more salary data to help with your research.
Average Salary of Truck Drivers in South Carolina
Annual Salary Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$28K | |
$36K | |
$42K |
Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 2,550 | $38,750 | $18.63 | $44,410 | $31,400 |
| Columbia, SC | 4,940 | $35,630 | $17.13 | $42,100 | $28,320 |
| Florence, SC | 1,230 | $33,140 | $15.93 | $39,260 | $28,580 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 3,880 | $35,850 | $17.24 | $42,110 | $29,990 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 690 | $37,030 | $17.80 | $42,400 | $30,660 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 770 | $35,090 | $16.87 | $40,210 | $29,590 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 1,920 | $37,290 | $17.93 | $43,740 | $30,640 |
| Sumter, SC | 430 | $34,340 | $16.51 | $37,680 | $28,380 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Truck Driver Schools by City
