One of the most common questions we get here at Superior Truck Driving Academy is “Do I need any experience with big rigs to get started in a trucking career?” The short answer is: not at all. In fact, plenty of students come to us without any prior experience behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. Some have never even driven a stick shift.
What they do have is a desire to build a better future, and that’s more than enough to get started. With the right training, guidance, and support, you can launch a trucking career from square one and start earning your Class A CDL in a matter of weeks:
Why Trucking Is an Accessible Career Path
Trucking remains one of the most accessible skilled professions in the job market. You don’t need a college degree or years of technical experience to enter the industry. If you’re over 18, have a clean driving record, and are physically capable of handling the demands of the road, you already meet the basic requirements to enroll in CDL training.
This field offers upward mobility, strong earning potential, and long-term job security. In fact, the demand for qualified drivers is growing. Companies across the country are looking for dependable people who are ready to get to work, and they don’t expect you to show up knowing everything. They expect you to be trained, licensed, and road ready. That’s where we come in.
Starting with the Basics: Structured Training Built for Beginners
When you have no experience, it’s important to learn in an environment that’s built for you. An environment that assumes prior knowledge or glosses over the fundamentals. At Superior, we take a step-by-step approach designed specifically to support students who are completely new to trucking.
Your journey starts in the classroom with Entry Level Driver Training, where we’ll cover the federal safety regulations, operational basics, and theoretical knowledge needed to understand how a truck works and what’s expected of you on the road.
From there, we move into simulator training. This is especially helpful for new drivers because it gives you the opportunity to get comfortable with the controls, learn how to shift, and practice responding to road scenarios without any risk. You can take your time, repeat exercises, and build confidence before you ever operate a real truck.
When you’re ready, we transition you into road training. You’ll start by working hands-on with a Class A commercial vehicle, learning how to shift, steer, backup, and handle turns under the guidance of experienced instructors who know how to teach from the ground up. By time you complete the program, you’ll have all the skills you need to pass your CDL exam in addition to an understanding how to apply them in real-world conditions.
What the First Few Weeks Look Like
Every student progresses at a different pace, but most people are surprised at how quickly they pick up the basics. During your first week, you’ll get a feel for the structure of the program, meet your instructors, and begin learning key safety concepts that will carry through the rest of your training.
You’ll also spend time getting to know the truck, both virtually in the simulator and physically during pre-trip inspections and instructor-led walkarounds. Once you’re comfortable, we bring introducing basic driving techniques, starting slow and building up to more advanced tasks like backing up and changing lanes.
Superior Truck Driving Academy will support you every step of the way. Our instructors work one-on-one with students to identify areas of strength and improvement, and we adjust the pace to match your individual learning style. There’s no rush, and no pressure to be perfect right out of the gate. The goal is always steady, confident progress.
Building a Career from Day One
Getting your CDL is about far more than just passing a test. You’re laying the groundwork for a sustainable career. At Superior Truck Driving Academy, we don’t treat our programs as shortcuts or crash courses. We treat them as the beginning of your professional journey, and we take that responsibility seriously. By the time you graduate, you’ll understand what it means to be a commercial driver. You’ll know how to operate your vehicle safely, how to navigate real-world traffic conditions, and how to carry yourself professionally on the road.
You’ll also learn that trucking is about more than just driving. It’s about time management, communication, adaptability, and responsibility. These are all things we help you develop along the way, so you’re prepared not just for the job, but for the lifestyle that comes with it. While we don’t offer job placement services, we do make sure our students are well-positioned to pursue opportunities after graduation. With a Class A CDL in hand and the skills to match, you’ll be ready to take that next step—wherever it leads you.
Encouragement for the True Beginners
If you’re reading this and wondering whether trucking is the right move for you, remember that you don’t need experience—you just have to be willing to learn. We’ve trained people from all walks of life—former retail workers, warehouse employees, recent high school grads, and people just looking for a second chance. What they had in common was the motivation to learn and the willingness to show up and put in the work.
At Superior Truck Driving Academy, we believe in meeting you where you are and guiding you to where you want to be. With structure, support, and real-world training, you’ll go from no experience to road-ready faster than you might think. Contact us today to get started!