Driving Academy
A New Road to Freedom behind the Wheel

For aspiring truck drivers, earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requires more than understanding the rules of the road. They need time behind the wheel to practice maneuvers, correct mistakes, and build the skills needed to pass the road test. Yet limited practice opportunities, training costs, and work commitments can make the process challenging. Driving Academy addresses these barriers through a training model that combines repeated hands-on practice and instruction tailored to students’ individual learning needs.

Jonathan Marques founded the school nearly a decade ago after working at another truck-driving school, where he saw an opportunity to make CDL training accessible to a broader range of learners. He also studied how adults learn, particularly those returning to formal education after years away from the classroom. These insights informed his approach to designing a program around the needs of people pursuing a new career while managing existing responsibilities.

For Marques, earning a CDL is a means of gaining greater financial stability and pursuing personal goals. He aims to help a million people get on the road to freedom, with guaranteed CDL training courses that give students additional time compared to other CDL programs to strengthen their skills. Classroom instruction prepares them for written permit exams, while practical training reinforces the skills needed to earn their CDLs.

“With our guaranteed training programs, you pay one price, get over 100 hours of training, and receive unlimited attempts at the road test,” says Marques, president.

Driving Academy makes that training more manageable through convenient payment options and scheduling. Students can begin with a $500 down payment and pay the remaining cost through interestfree installments, with some programs starting at approximately $100 per week. Operating seven days a week, the school accommodates students’ work and family commitments, while an online portal lets them complete coursework from home outside scheduled training hours. A key element of this training model is a circuitstyle system.

Instead of having students wait in line for access to a truck, practical instruction is divided into stations covering vehicle inspections, parking maneuvers, road driving, and simulator exercises. Students rotate between stations about every 30 minutes, giving them more time to practice each skill, learn from mistakes, and build muscle memory. Simulators at most locations let learners practice shifting and varied road conditions, while third-party CDL testing sites provide insight into testing requirements and training quality.

The school's support continues even after students earn their licenses. Driving Academy provides lifetime job placement assistance, connecting graduates with trucking companies through employer relationships, a student-only job board, and trucking-focused hiring platforms. It also vets prospective employers for their willingness to hire new drivers and avoids opportunities that require restrictive long-term employment contracts. Although the school does not guarantee employment, these resources connect graduates with job opportunities, while GI Bill funding covers CDL training costs for eligible veterans.

Driving Academy also works with businesses that need to develop or retrain drivers. Employers can sponsor current employees for CDL training at a business location or, when group size allows, arrange instruction through a mobile training unit. The school provides driver evaluations and refresher training to address unsafe driving habits and meet other training needs.

Alongside serving individual learners and business clients, Driving Academy is expanding through corporate locations and a franchise network. The school equips franchisees with its brand, systems, and guidance to bring its training model to more communities, advancing its goal of reaching a million people. Prior CDL expertise is not a prerequisite for franchise ownership, although franchisees must still be equipped to operate their businesses effectively.

As trucking regulations and driver eligibility requirements evolve, Marques believes a shrinking pool of eligible drivers could create hiring opportunities heading into 2027, depending on regulatory changes and employer demand. Recognized as a Top Truck Driving School 2027, Driving Academy prepares aspiring drivers for these opportunities through flexible training and job placement support, helping them get on the road to freedom.