Trucking Life Academy · Dalton, GA · off I-75
The CDL-A school built by a driver, for drivers.
Corporate mills push bodies through a system. Trucking Life Academy trains drivers — ELDT-compliant CDL-A instruction on real trucks, real roads, and real accountability, from a man who’s run 17 years with a clean record.
17 yrs
On the road
0
Violations
CDL-A
What you earn
ELDT
Compliant program
The mission
Drivers helping drivers
The trucking industry is full of schools that treat students like a number and lenders that treat them like a mark. Trucking Life Academy is the opposite of that. Founder Shawn Gresham has spent 17 years in the seat with zero violations, and he built this school to hand that experience down the way it should be — straight, practical, and on the driver’s side. No fluff. No games. Just the training it takes to earn a CDL-A and actually be ready for the road.
The program journey
From first read to career-ready
No mystery, no filler. This is the road through the program — and it starts free, before you spend a dollar.
1 · Before day one
Prepare
Free Knowledge Center guides and practice tests — or the full CDL Pre-School head start.
2 · Phase 1
Theory & Permit Prep
ELDT theory curriculum: pass the CDL knowledge tests and earn your CLP.
3 · Phase 2
Range Skills
Pre-trip inspection, backing, docking, and coupling — on real equipment.
4 · Phase 3
Public Road Driving
Real roads and real traffic, taught from 17 years of clean-record experience.
5 · Phase 4
Test Prep & Endorsements
Polish for the CDL-A skills test, plus the endorsements worth adding.
6 · After the CDL
Career Preparation
Straight talk on first-year jobs and career paths — guidance, not promises.
Where the school stands
Straight answers, published early
Most schools make you sit through a sales call to learn the basics. We publish them — including the parts still being finalized.
- Program standard
FMCSA ELDT-compliant CDL-A curriculum
Theory + behind-the-wheel, published phase by phase on the Curriculum page.
- Tuition
Being finalized
Published here the moment it’s locked. Financing routes are already documented.
- Schedule & start dates
Being finalized
Join the interest list below — applicants hear updates before anyone else.
- State licensing
Details published when finalized
Our licensing checklist will be published here as it comes together — and we think every school should show you theirs.
Final enrollment details are being confirmed. Join the interest list for updates — applying costs nothing, collects no payment, and puts you on the list before enrollment opens.
Apply — join the listFund the school
Built founder by founder
The Academy is funded by drivers and businesses who want this school to exist. Every dollar below is the real campaign total.
$12,060 raised
of $11,550 goal
FUNDED — THE WALL IS COMPLETE
100% funded
51 founders on the wall
Explore the Academy
Everything you need to know
ELDT Compliant
Real Equipment
Driver Instructors
Requirements, Clear
Funding Options
Dalton, GA · I-75
Before you enroll
Start studying for free
You don’t have to wait for day one to get ahead. The Knowledge Center is packed with plain-English guides on the CDL permit, the pre-trip inspection, DOT medical cards, and Hours of Service — all verified against the regs by a 17-year driver. Want the full head start — permit knowledge plus the money, family, and lifestyle prep? That’s CDL Pre-School.
Frequently asked questions
What is Trucking Life Academy?
A CDL-A driver-training school in Dalton, Georgia, founded by Shawn Gresham — a 17-year driver with zero violations who trains new drivers on real equipment. The mission is simple: drivers helping drivers.
Is the training ELDT compliant?
Yes. The program is built around the FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standard, covering the required theory and behind-the-wheel instruction you need to test for a Class A CDL.
Do I need any experience to start?
No commercial experience is required. You do need to meet basic eligibility — age, a valid driver’s license, a DOT medical card, and a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). See the Requirements page for the full checklist.
How much does it cost?
Exact tuition is being finalized and will be published soon. In the meantime, the Financing page explains the funding routes drivers can use — workforce grants, VA benefits, employer sponsorship, and community-funded seats.
How old do I have to be?
At least 21 for interstate driving, or 18 if you’ll drive intrastate within Georgia. Not sure which applies to you? Apply anyway and say so — we’ll walk you through it.
Do I need a DOT medical card?
Yes — a DOT medical certificate is a federal requirement for a CDL. Not having one yet doesn’t block your application; the Knowledge Center explains the exam, and we’ll point you to the next step.
What if my driving record isn’t perfect?
A ticket or an old mistake doesn’t automatically end the conversation. Eligibility depends on the specifics — tell us honestly in your application and we’ll talk it through straight. No judgment, no runaround.
What happens if I fail a test?
The program’s whole job is to have you ready before test day — that’s what the phased training and free practice tests are for. Exact retest logistics will be published with the final enrollment details.
Will you help me find a job after?
We won’t promise placement numbers we haven’t earned yet. What you get is honest career preparation — the Knowledge Center’s career-path guides and straight talk about what the first year really looks like.
Where is the school located?
In Dalton, Georgia, right off the I-75 corridor — convenient to North Georgia and the Chattanooga, TN area.
More questions? Read the full Academy FAQ →
Ready to get your CDL the right way?
Drivers helping drivers — that’s the whole idea. Start your application, help fund a seat, or get your questions answered.