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Starline CDL School
Starline CDL School is a Class A CDL training provider located in Woodland, Washington, serving students throughout the Pacific Northwest. The school was founded by Eric Mwarabu, who brings fourteen years of professional driving experience, including hauling freight through difficult conditions and managing fleet operations, to the training programs he designed.
Starline CDL School offers both morning and evening class schedules, along with a Class B to Class A CDL upgrade course, to accommodate students at different stages of their driving careers. The school emphasizes small class sizes, extensive hands-on wheel time, and personal coaching over high enrollment numbers. Its curriculum is grounded in FMCSA best practices combined with real-world, road-tested instruction.
Safety is a central focus of the program, with training designed to produce drivers who are prepared to handle the responsibility of operating heavy commercial vehicles. The school's mission extends beyond licensing, aiming to develop well-trained, professional drivers who contribute positively to their communities and support local economies through skilled, well-paying careers.
Founder Eric Mwarabu remains actively involved in day-to-day instruction, often working directly with students on the practice range to demonstrate maneuvers and reinforce safety lessons firsthand.
Available Programs
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Class A CDL
Transportation & MechanicsStarline CDL School's Class A CDL Training Course is a 160-hour, FMCSA-approved program based in Woodland, Washington, open to both new students and those with prior driving experience. The program is offered in both manual and automatic transmission tracks, with morning and evening class times available to fit different schedules.
The manual transmission course runs four weeks and costs $4,000 plus sales tax, preparing students to operate trucks with a gear shift and clutch. The automatic transmission course, also four weeks, costs $3,500 plus sales tax and reflects the industry's growing shift toward automatic fleets while still meeting the qualifications many employers require.
Training combines classroom instruction with hands-on driving practice, covering the knowledge and skills needed to pass both the permit and driving tests for entry-level truck driving positions. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to pursue careers in long-haul trucking, delivery services, construction, and other fields that require a Class A commercial driver's license.
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Class B to Class A CDL Upgrade Training Course
Transportation & MechanicsStarline CDL School's Class B to Class A CDL Upgrade Training Course is an 80-hour, in-person program held at the school's Woodland, Washington location, designed for drivers who already hold a Class B CDL and want to move into larger trucks and combination vehicles. The course can be completed in two weeks and is priced at $3,300, with morning and evening class options available.
The program satisfies FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements under 49 CFR Part 380 and is listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, ensuring students receive training that meets federal standards. Coursework covers five core areas: basic truck operation, safe operating procedures, advanced operating practices, vehicle systems and malfunction reporting, and non-driving activities such as hours-of-service rules and cargo handling.
Students also gain access to additional study materials covering air brakes, combination vehicles, general knowledge, tankers, and hazardous materials, helping prepare them for their written permit exams. Upon completion, Starline CDL School reports student results to the FMCSA, allowing graduates to schedule their Class A CDL skills test with their state DMV and pursue higher-paying trucking positions that require a Class A license.