Quick Facts

• Location: West Fargo, North Dakota
• Address: 341 12th Ave NE, West Fargo, ND 58078
• School Type: Private CDL / Commercial Truck Driver Training School
• Programs Offered: Class A CDL Entry-Level Driver Training, behind-the-wheel CDL training, refresher/individual training
• Training Style: Online ELDT theory plus intensive hands-on tractor-trailer training
• Tuition Range: Contact CES for current tuition; current prices are not clearly published on the official website
• Program Length: 3–5 weeks, depending on course
• Online Programs Available: Online ELDT theory component
• Hybrid Learning: Yes — online theory plus in-person range/road training
• Financial Aid: Workforce funding, employer sponsorship and private financing/payment plans may be available; traditional FAFSA/Pell eligibility is not prominently advertised
• Class Options: 120-hour, 160-hour and 200-hour Class A training
• Certification/Approval: Provides federal Entry-Level Driver Training curriculum for CDL applicants
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.9 (100 Reviews)
• Website: Official Commercial Education and Safety website

Overview

Commercial Education and Safety, commonly called CES, is a specialized truck-driving school serving Fargo/West Fargo and other locations in North Dakota and Minnesota. Unlike a community college offering dozens of programs, CES focuses directly on CDL and Entry-Level Driver Training.

The school has operated since 2015 and says it has trained thousands of commercial drivers. Its current North Dakota training locations include Fargo and Grand Forks.

For TradeSchoolScout, this is an excellent specialized listing because students can move from required ELDT theory into intensive tractor-trailer driving instruction in a matter of weeks.

Programs Offered

CES currently advertises three primary Class A training tracks:

• 120-hour Class A — approximately 3 weeks
• 160-hour Class A — approximately 4 weeks
• 200-hour Class A — approximately 5 weeks

Class A CDL Training

The program combines required theory education with behind-the-wheel practice.

Current training topics include:

• Safe tractor-trailer operation
• Pre-trip inspection
• Starting and stopping
• Coupling and uncoupling
• Air brakes
• Hours-of-service rules
• Driver logs
• Map reading and route planning
• Preventive maintenance
• Straight-line backing
• Offset backing
• Alley docking
• Parallel parking
• Upshifting/downshifting
• City and highway driving

CES describes the theory portion as a 40-hour online course designed to satisfy Entry-Level Driver Training knowledge requirements under federal regulations. Hands-on driver training then takes place in person.

Admission Requirements

Current CES requirements include:

• At least 18 years old
• Valid U.S. driver’s license
• Commercial Learner’s Permit before driver training
• Valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate
• DOT drug screening
• Ability to meet applicable federal commercial-driver requirements

Drivers ages 18–20 are generally limited to intrastate commercial operation; interstate commercial driving generally requires age 21.

Tuition & Financial Aid

CES does not clearly publish current tuition amounts for its 120-, 160- or 200-hour programs on the pages reviewed, so TradeSchoolScout should say:

Tuition: Contact CES for current pricing.

Do not invent a dollar figure.

CES does advertise several ways students may finance training. The school works with:

• Workforce programs
• Independent funding organizations
• Trucking-company sponsorships
• Meritize private financing/payment plans

Traditional FAFSA/Pell Grant aid is not prominently advertised, so I would not label CES as a federal financial-aid school without confirmation.

Why Students Choose This School

• Specialized CDL training
• 3-, 4- and 5-week Class A options
• Online ELDT theory
• Extensive behind-the-wheel instruction
• Fargo/West Fargo location
• Employer and workforce funding connections
• Private financing options
• Focus solely on professional driving
• Multiple North Dakota/Minnesota locations

Career Opportunities

Graduates who successfully obtain the required CDL may pursue positions such as:

• Tractor-Trailer Driver
• Regional Truck Driver
• Local Delivery Driver
• Freight Driver
• Construction Truck Driver
• Commercial Driver
• Over-the-Road Driver

Actual employment requires passing applicable state CDL testing and meeting employer and federal requirements.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google listing:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.9 (100 Reviews)

That combination of a high rating and a meaningful review count makes CES one of the strongest-reviewed specialized schools in this North Dakota batch.

Enrollment Tips

Students should decide first whether they need the 120-, 160- or 200-hour program. More training time may be worthwhile for someone entering trucking with little experience, while experienced candidates may need less.

Applicants should also arrange their Commercial Learner’s Permit, DOT medical qualification and drug screening early because these are prerequisites for behind-the-wheel training.

Finally, ask CES for a written current tuition quote and whether workforce funding or employer sponsorship can cover part or all of the cost before using private financing.

Bottom Line

Commercial Education and Safety is an excellent North Dakota directory listing for students specifically seeking Class A CDL training. Its 3–5 week pathways, online ELDT theory and intensive hands-on tractor-trailer instruction make it a much faster route into commercial driving than a conventional two-year technical program. With a supplied Google rating of 4.9 from 100 reviews, it is also one of the stronger-rated North Dakota training providers in your dataset.