by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Truck & Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor explores Truck And Bus Driver/commercial Vehicle Operator And Instructor. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Drive Trucks And Buses, Delivery Vehicles, For-Hire Vehicles And Other Commercial Vehicles, Or To Instruct Commerical Vehicle Operators. Includes Instruction In Operating Gas, Diesel, Or Electrically-Powered Vehicles; Loading And Unloading Cargo Or Passengers; Reporting Delays Or Accidents On The Road; Verifying Load Against Shipping Papers; Arranging Transportation For Personnel; And Keeping Records Of Receipts And Fares. Continue reading for the important information every truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor programs.
Nationwide, truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor draws strong interest, with 21,399 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Truck & Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor Schools ranking analyzes these 228 schools to determine the best overall colleges for truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor programs later in this article.
Programs in Truck & Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 344 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,345 |
People currently working in careers related to truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 62.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 18.8% |
| Some college courses | 9.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.0% |
| Master’s degree | 0.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | 1,517,174 | 7.5% |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | 1,223,795 | -1.9% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 713,542 | 7.3% |
| Bus Drivers, School | 409,882 | 6.8% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 237,345 | 5.1% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 202,912 | 0.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,832 |
| 4 years | $42,430 |
| 5 years | $45,687 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $48,415 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,746 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $31,743 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $28,514 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $27,779 |
With 228 different truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor school rankings to help you.
Those considering truck & bus driver/commercial vehicle operator & instructor, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | 1,131 |
| Forklift Operation/Operator | 197 |
| Ground Transportation, Other | 163 |
| Railroad and Railway Transportation | 78 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
