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5 Best Truck Driving Schools in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Vespera Quill
By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Earning a CDL is a career move, not a hobby, and the school you pick decides whether you're confident behind the wheel on test day or scrambling to teach yourself from YouTube the night before. New York's truck driving schools mostly sit just across the river in New Jersey, close enough for a daily commute to class. Eighteen schools serve the area, and the ratings cluster tight between 4.6 and 4.9, so EZ Wheels Driving School's 1,580 reviews are what actually separate it from the pack.

Short answer: EZ Wheels Driving School in Union City, NJ tops the list with a 4.9 rating across 1,580 reviews, the strongest combination of rating and proven volume we found. US Mule CDL Driving School in Brooklyn (4.8, 1,343 reviews) is the pick if you want to train inside the five boroughs. Expect training packages to run into the thousands of dollars, so read the refund terms before you sign.
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How the top CDL schools compare

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 EZ Wheels Driving School 4.9 1,580 Overall / highest volume View ›
2 US Mule CDL Driving School 4.8 1,343 Training inside Brooklyn View ›
3 Driving Academy 4.6 1,787 Highest review volume View ›
4 Sunny Truck Driving School 4.8 915 Private training range View ›
5 Jersey Tractor Trailer Training 4.8 799 Zero-experience starters View ›
5 Best Truck Driving Schools in New York (2026)

Our picks, reviewed

EZ Wheels Driving School logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

EZ Wheels Driving School

4.91,580 Google reviews

EZ Wheels Driving School trains commercial drivers for Class A and B licenses out of Union City, NJ, alongside forklift certification and general auto driving instruction, and serves both New Jersey and New York students. It's been a fixture for CDL prep in the area, with a front desk and instructor team students describe as consistent across their whole training block, not just on a good day. Students repeatedly credit specific instructors, not a generic curriculum, for getting them through their road test.

What people praise

  • Instructors (Mr. Angel, Marcelo named repeatedly) explain the material clearly and build confidence for nervous drivers
  • Front desk staff follow up over months, not just at sign-up
  • Multiple students report passing their CDL road test on the first attempt

Worth knowing

  • A billing dispute over a missed-lesson fee shows up in one review. Confirm the cancellation and no-show policy before you pay
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume1,580 · 92th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown96% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest combination of rating and volume on this list. It's the safe first call if you're weighing a New Jersey commute for New York-area training.

1518 Summit Ave, Union City, NJ 07087

US Mule CDL Driving School logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

US Mule CDL Driving School

4.81,343 Google reviews

US Mule CDL Driving School runs out of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, offering Class A CDL prep with a training program students describe as thorough on both the classroom and behind-the-wheel sides. Reviewers consistently name the same handful of instructors and office staff, suggesting a small, stable team rather than high turnover. It's the pick for students who want to stay inside the five boroughs rather than travel to New Jersey.

What people praise

  • Instructors (Jose named repeatedly) are patient and correct mistakes clearly during road practice
  • Office staff (Violetta, Natasha, Nataliia named) keep communication organized through the process
  • Open long hours, including weekends, for students juggling other work
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume1,343 · 86th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown93% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A slightly lower rating than EZ Wheels but a real edge for anyone who wants Brooklyn-based training rather than a commute across the river.

277 Brighton Beach Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Driving Academy logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Driving Academy

4.61,787 Google reviews

Driving Academy operates a CDL training yard in Linden, NJ, part of a larger multi-state chain, offering FMCSA-approved Class A and B courses seven days a week with night and weekend slots. The Linden location has the largest review count on this list by a wide margin, and named instructors show up again and again across years of feedback, not just a recent spike. Its own marketing promises fast licensing and job placement help, though students are candid that the training only works if you put in the practice time.

What people praise

  • Instructors (Pierre, Carnel, Erick, Tessa, Tyriek, Jeremy named repeatedly) get credited for real mentorship, not just test prep
  • Open seven days a week with night and weekend training slots
  • Advertises job placement assistance after licensing

Worth knowing

  • Package pricing runs into the thousands, and one reviewer says a refund wasn't granted after a signed contract. Read the terms before paying up front
  • Yard time and scheduling can feel inconsistent during busy periods, per at least one review
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume1,787 · 97th
Confidencevery high
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown87% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest review volume here by far, which is why it ranks where it does even though the rating trails EZ Wheels and US Mule slightly. Go in with a clear read of the contract and refund policy.

200 E Edgar Rd, Linden, NJ 07036

Sunny Truck Driving School logo
#4🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Sunny Truck Driving School

4.8915 Google reviews

Sunny Truck Driving School trains Class A, B and BP students out of Flushing, Queens, and has run CDL programs since 1995. Its own site points to a private training range away from public traffic as the core of the program, letting new drivers practice without the added pressure of live traffic. Reviewers describe a sales process that doesn't push unnecessary lesson bundles, letting students buy only what they need.

What people praise

  • Trains on a private range, not public roads, for early practice sessions
  • Doesn't oversell lesson bundles. Staff let students start with the minimum package and add on if needed
  • Running CDL programs since 1995, per the school's own site

Worth knowing

  • Closed weekends, unlike some other schools on this list
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume915 · 81th
Confidencevery high
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown94% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The only Queens-based option here with its own private training ground, and reviewers consistently praise the no-pressure sales approach. A strong pick if you're in northern Queens.

41-26 College Point Blvd 2 floor, Flushing, NY 11355

Jersey Tractor Trailer Training logo
#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Jersey Tractor Trailer Training

4.8799 Google reviews

Jersey Tractor Trailer Training runs a CDL yard in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, and markets itself to complete beginners, no prior tractor-trailer experience required, with job placement assistance built into the program. What stands out across years of reviews is how consistently the same instructor names come up, students from 2023 and students from this year name the same team members for the same kind of hands-on, detail-focused teaching.

What people praise

  • Same instructor team (John, Junior, Andre, Ronnie named across multiple years) delivers consistent teaching over time
  • Explicitly built for students with zero prior tractor-trailer experience
  • Advertises 100% job placement assistance after licensing

Worth knowing

  • Only open until noon on Saturdays and closed Sundays
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume799 · 75th
Confidencevery high
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown93% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most consistent long-term reputation on this list, the same instructor names surface in reviews years apart. A solid choice if you're starting with zero experience.

411 NJ-17 Ste 120, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604

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Watch: 5 Best Truck Driving Schools in New York (2026)

How we score

Rating is each school’s live Google average. Review volume shows how many students left a rating, measured against the other schools here. Confidence weighs the rating by how many reviews back it up, so a 4.9 from 1,500 reviews counts for more than a 4.9 from 30. Recency checks how lately students are still leaving reviews. No school can pay to move these numbers.

How much does CDL training cost near New York? (2026)

CDL program pricing depends heavily on the license class you’re after, whether the school includes road test fees and retake attempts, and how many weeks of yard time are bundled in. Packages that look cheap upfront sometimes charge extra for each failed road test attempt, so ask exactly what’s included before comparing prices between schools. Get the full package breakdown and refund terms in writing before you pay anything.

Serving the New York metro area

These schools cluster around the New York and northern New Jersey border: Union City, Linden and Hasbrouck Heights in NJ, plus Brooklyn and Flushing inside the five boroughs. If you’re searching for a truck driving school near me anywhere in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or the Hudson County side of New Jersey, one of these is within a reasonable commute.

What to ask before you enroll

  • What’s included in the package price, and what costs extra (retests, permit fees, endorsements)?
  • What’s the refund policy if I need to cancel or the training doesn’t work out?
  • How much behind-the-wheel yard time is guaranteed versus classroom time?
  • Do you offer job placement assistance, and what does that actually involve?
  • Is training available evenings or weekends if I’m working full-time?
  • What happens if I fail the road test on the first attempt?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these schools?

We compared publicly available Google ratings and review counts for truck driving schools serving the New York area, including nearby New Jersey locations students commonly train at, and weighed rating against review volume.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google ratings and review data verified in July 2026. We refresh listings periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Do I need a CDL permit before starting classes?

Most schools require a valid CDL learner’s permit before behind-the-wheel training begins. Ask your chosen school what paperwork you need in hand before your first session.

The bottom line

EZ Wheels Driving School is the safe default: the strongest rating-to-volume balance on this list and a commute most New York students already make for work. If staying inside the five boroughs matters more than the highest rating, US Mule in Brooklyn is a close, well-reviewed second.

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