CDL Schools in South Dakota: Behind-the-Wheel Training

34 CDL schools, truck driving schools and other training locations in South Dakota (SD) are listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry for behind-the-wheel CDL training, including schools in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Brookings, Groton, Mitchell. You need behind-the-wheel training from a registered provider after your ELDT theory.

Need ELDT theory? It can come from a different registered provider than your school: our $20 Class A CDL theory course is online and accepted in South Dakota. The South Dakota ELDT guide covers the permit and test steps.

Listed from the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. We don't endorse these schools. Contact them directly to confirm courses, prices and schedules. Some registered providers only train their own employees. Report a correction

About CDL training in South Dakota

Of the 34 SD locations on the registry, 25 (74%) are registered for Class A training, 29 (85%) for Class B, 19 for the passenger (P) endorsement and 19 for school bus (S); 8 also hold hazmat (H) theory, which has no driving portion, so the hazmat endorsement course can be taken online. 7 of the names are a school district, transit agency, college or other public body, which often trains only its own drivers, so the number open to the public may be smaller.

Where each class is taught: Class A in Sioux Falls (5), Aberdeen (2) and Brookings (2); Class B in Sioux Falls (5), Aberdeen (2) and Groton (2); the passenger (P) endorsement in Sioux Falls (3), Groton (2) and Agency Village (1); school bus (S) in Sioux Falls (3), Groton (2) and Agency Village (1).

29 of the 34 list a phone number and 8 publish a website. 5 records were updated by the provider in 2026 and 29 carry an older date; the newest SD record (Eagle Vision Trucking) is from August 2026. Treat an old date as a reason to call first, not as proof that a school has closed.

The locations are spread over 23 cities; the biggest clusters are Sioux Falls (6), Aberdeen (2), Brookings (2), Groton (2) and Mitchell (2). Also listed: Pierre (2), Watertown (2), Agency Village (1), Bismarck (1), Bison (1), Colome (1), Delmont (1), Harrisburg (1), Langford (1) and McIntosh (1). Each city heading below is a jump link, and every card shows the classes that location is registered for.

Not sure a provider is still registered? Read how to check a provider's registry record, and what separates theory from behind-the-wheel before you compare schools.

Before behind-the-wheel in South Dakota

Schools in South Dakota can only put you on the range once you hold a Commercial Learner's Permit from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing. Federal rules then require at least 14 days with the permit before the skills test, and the agency must see both your theory and your behind-the-wheel completions in the FMCSA registry before it gives you that test. So finish theory first, with any registered provider, then bring the permit to one of the 34 SD locations on this page (25 of them train Class A).

The South Dakota ELDT guide covers the SD permit steps, agency fees and testing rules, and the online theory part costs $20 per course.

All registered schools

34 locations

Aberdeen

Agency Village

Bismarck

Bison

Brookings

Colome

Delmont

Groton

Harrisburg

Langford

McIntosh

  • Roxie Hovda

    McIntosh, 57641

    • Class B
    • Passenger
    • School bus

    Directions

    Updated in TPR: Mar 2024

Mission

Mitchell

Mobridge

North Sioux City

Pierre

Rapid City

Scotland

Sioux Falls

Sturgis

  • Harlow's School Bus Service Inc. of Montana

    Sturgis Harlow's School Bus Service

    Sturgis, 57785

    • Class B
    • Passenger
    • School bus

    Directions

    Updated in TPR: Aug 2022

Toronto

Vermillion

Watertown

South Dakota CDL school questions

Do I need behind-the-wheel training after online theory?
Yes, for a Class A or Class B CDL, the B-to-A upgrade and the passenger and school bus endorsements. Theory can be done online, but range and public-road training must be done in person with a registered provider, for example one of the South Dakota schools on this page. In South Dakota, 25 of the 34 registered locations are set up for Class A training and 29 for Class B; Sioux Falls alone has 6. Hazmat is theory only.
How do I check that a school is registered?
Search the school's name at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov. Every school on this page comes from that registry, but listings change, so confirm before you pay.
Can I take theory and behind-the-wheel from different providers?
Yes. FMCSA lets you complete theory with one registered provider and behind-the-wheel with another. Many drivers in South Dakota finish theory online first, then do range and road training in person with a local school or instructor.
How do I find a Class A truck driving school in South Dakota?
Filter the list on this page by Class A. 25 of the 34 registered locations in South Dakota are set up for Class A (tractor-trailer) training; the biggest clusters are in Sioux Falls (5), Aberdeen (2) and Brookings (2). Some Class A registrants are trucking companies that train only their own new hires, so call and ask whether the school takes public students before you plan around it.

Budgeting for your CDL? See what ELDT costs in 2026 for online theory prices and the other fees.

Finish ELDT theory before behind-the-wheel in South Dakota

Self-paced online theory for $20, reported to the FMCSA registry automatically.

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