Located on US-70 in Catawba County, TransTech’s Newton campus is right in the middle of one of North Carolina’s busiest manufacturing regions. The campus serves students from the Hickory metro and surrounding communities including Conover, Maiden, Claremont, and Lincolnton.
Getting your Class A CDL starts with knowing the equipment inside and out. At Newton, students work through topics like air brakes, defensive driving, and trip planning before moving to the range for pre-trip inspections and backing maneuvers. From there it is time on public roads learning to handle a tractor-trailer in real conditions. The program is ELDT compliant and wraps up in as little as four weeks. Students take their CDL skills test on-site at the Newton campus.
Class B CDL training is available at Newton for students headed toward careers in dump truck, straight truck, delivery, construction, or waste and recycling. Newton also offers Class B training with a Passenger endorsement for students pursuing bus driving careers. Catawba County’s industrial base and growing population keep demand for Class B drivers strong locally.
The full-time program runs four weeks and gets rolling every Monday. Class hours are Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm.
Ten weeks of Saturday–Sunday training, 7am–5pm. Designed for students who are holding down a job and building toward a career change at the same time.
Catawba County has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing in North Carolina, with over 400 manufacturers accounting for nearly a third of the local workforce. That industrial density means a steady flow of freight moving in and out of the region every day. US-70 and I-40 run through the area and provide direct routes west toward Asheville and east toward Charlotte, connecting Newton-based drivers to freight networks across the state. The region supports active demand across furniture, fiber, and construction materials hauling, along with local and regional distribution tied to the Hickory metro.
Carriers hiring in and around Catawba County include Werner Enterprises, TMC Transportation, Stevens Transport, and Schneider National, as well as regional operators serving the western Piedmont. Local manufacturing plants and distribution operations also hire Class B drivers for dedicated routes. TransTech’s job placement program helps graduates get in front of the right carriers after training.
CDL drivers starting out in the Newton and Hickory area typically earn:
$48,000 – $66,000 per year
Based on market data from Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter for the Hickory and Catawba County area. The Hickory metro ranks among the higher-paying markets in western NC for truck drivers, driven by the region's manufacturing and freight activity. Regional and OTR drivers with experience commonly earn $66,000–$85,000 or more.
New classes begin every Monday. Fill out the form to get in touch with admissions.
Newton Class ScheduleNewton offers both Class A and Class B CDL training, including Class B with a Passenger endorsement for students pursuing bus driving careers. Both programs are ELDT compliant and approved by the State of North Carolina.
CDL skills testing takes place on-site at the Newton campus after training is complete. There is no need to book a separate appointment at a state DMV location.
Students need to be at least 18 years old (21 for interstate commerce or hazardous materials), hold a valid North Carolina driver’s license, have a clean driving record, and pass a DOT physical and drug screen. Your license must be valid and in good standing, and you cannot hold more than one driver’s license.
Full-time students finish in four weeks. The weekend program runs ten weeks and is built for people who cannot step away from their current job during training.
The local manufacturing base creates consistent demand for drivers on local and regional routes. Graduates also have access to OTR opportunities through national carriers that recruit in the region. TransTech’s job placement assistance connects graduates with hiring carriers once training wraps up.
The US-70 campus draws students from across Catawba County and neighboring areas including Conover, Maiden, Claremont, Hickory, Lincolnton, and communities in Burke, Caldwell, and Alexander counties. Easy I-40 and US-70 access makes it a practical choice for students across the western Piedmont.
