Employer-paid CDL training ยท Kansas City, MO
Paid CDL training in Kansas City includes transit and school-bus jobs, with paid instruction advertised by KCATA, NKC Schools and DS Bus Lines. First Student also provides permit and CDL training; ask its local branches about training pay and fees.
The jobs below include employer-provided instruction, with published training wages shown where available. The check line links to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry so you can check the location and required course type.
8 options listed
| Employer or sponsor | Training | Type | Length | Work commitment | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA/RideKC)Kansas City, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry Permit required before training. The page describes five weeks but outlines six; confirm the assigned duration. Student buys a uniform before the allowance begins. Headquarters contact address shown. FMCSA lists this Kansas City, MO location for Class B and passenger theory and behind-the-wheel training, with no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | Bus Operator (Driver) Training | Paid while training | Five-week course; up to 240 hours (the outline also lists week 6) | Ask employer | Ask employer |
| North Kansas City SchoolsKansas City, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry District advertises paid training for transportation roles. Ask about the driver training rate, permit charges and work terms. FMCSA lists Class B, passenger and school-bus theory and behind-the-wheel training at the district address, with no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | Bus Driver | Paid while training | Ask employer | Ask employer | Ask employer |
| First Student, Kansas CityKansas City, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry Active posting provides CLP and CDL training for applicants without experience. Training wage and fees are not itemized. Job address shown; FMCSA location 11416 Kansas City has ZIP 64126, so confirm the assigned training yard. Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | School Bus Driver | Employer-paid | Ask employer | Ask employer | Ask employer |
| First Student, Parkville routesKansas City, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry Parkville hiring page provides CLP/CDL instruction without itemizing training pay or fees. Job address shown. FMCSA lists branch 20275 Parkville in Kansas City, MO 64153; confirm the assigned training yard. Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | School Bus Driver | Employer-paid | Ask employer | Ask employer | Ask employer |
| First Student, De Soto routesShawnee, KSFMCSA Training Provider Registry Shawnee posting serves De Soto schools and accepts applicants without a CDL. It provides CLP/CDL training; confirm training wages and charges. Job address shown. TPR location: 27013 De Soto; Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | School Bus Driver | Employer-paid | Ask employer | Ask employer | Ask employer |
| DS Bus Lines Inc., BeltonBelton, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry Posting lists $15.00/hour during CDL training and says the employer pays the DMV permit directly. Weekday driving job with summers off. TPR location: 200 - DS Bus Lines Inc.; Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | School Bus Driver | Paid Training & Licensing | Paid while training | Ask employer | Ask employer | School bus training at no cost; licensing fees covered (DS careers page and 2026 Belton posting) |
| DS Bus Lines Inc., OlatheOlathe, KSFMCSA Training Provider Registry Training pay is $16.75/hour in the posting. Both morning and afternoon routes are required. Employer offers transportation from Merriam, KS and Grandview, MO. TPR location: 105 -DS Bus Lines Inc.; Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | Part-Time School Bus Driver in Olathe | Paid CDL Training | Paid while training | Ask employer | Ask employer | No-cost school bus training (DS careers page); confirm licensing and testing charges |
| First Student, Excelsior SpringsExcelsior Springs, MOFMCSA Training Provider Registry Employer supplies CLP/CDL training and requires age 21 plus three years with a driver's license. Ask for training wages and fees. Job address shown. TPR location: 24140 Excelsior Springs; Active FMCSA location, no review flag; checked October 27, 2026. Apply page | School Bus Driver | Employer-paid | Ask employer | Ask employer | Ask employer |
Employers change these offers often. Confirm pay, hours, the work commitment and any repayment terms on the employer's own page before you apply.
KCATA combines classroom learning, CDL skills practice and mentored route driving to prepare new transit bus operators.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryNorth Kansas City Schools lists bus driver openings and provides a transportation recruiting contact for applicants.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryFirst Student's Kansas City driver role includes morning and afternoon student transportation with permit and CDL instruction.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryThe Parkville opening welcomes new drivers for weekday split shifts, with additional transportation work for field trips and events.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryFirst Student recruits Shawnee drivers for De Soto school routes and lists passenger and school-bus endorsements among the required credentials.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryDS Bus Lines recruits new Belton school-bus drivers and pays trainees while they work toward their CDL.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryThe Olathe driver opening includes paid CDL instruction and a split shift serving morning and afternoon school routes.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryFirst Student's Excelsior Springs branch trains applicants without bus-driving experience for part-time routes transporting students to school.
FMCSA Training Provider RegistryUse the Kansas CDL manual to compare Class A combination vehicles with Class B buses and straight trucks. Ask which class, endorsements and restrictions the employer's training covers.
Check the exact employer location in the FMCSA registry. FMCSA advises checking training type, fees and availability with the provider before starting.
Follow Missouri Revenue or Kansas Revenue requirements for your license. KCATA requires the appropriate permit before training starts; ask each employer when its permit instruction and paid employment begin.
The Belton DS posting publishes training pay separately from licensed-driver pay. Ask for the paid-hour schedule, charges, service obligation and any early-exit repayment terms in writing.
FMCSA ELDT rules cover first-time Class A/B applicants, B-to-A upgrades and first-time passenger, school-bus or hazardous-material endorsements. Confirm the provider submits each required completion record.
The BLS May 2025 OEWS table reports 2,530 school-bus driver jobs (53-3051) in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, with a median wage of $23.13 an hour. Transit and intercity bus drivers (53-3052) held 680 jobs, with a median of $28.54 an hour. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (53-3032) held 18,230 jobs, with a median of $28.93 an hour and $60,170 a year.
These occupation-wide figures provide context for comparing training rates. The listed bus routes and a Class A trucking job can involve different shifts, vehicles and paid hours. Use the employer's written offer to compare actual training income and the work after licensing.
DS Bus Lines advertises school-bus training at no cost. Its Belton posting also covers licensing fees and lists $15.00 an hour during training. Olathe's posting lists $16.75 an hour during instruction. Confirm who pays for medical exams, permits, retests and travel.
KCATA describes paid training but requires the permit beforehand and has students buy a uniform before their allowance begins. The First Student postings provide training without itemizing trainee pay or charges. Get a written breakdown before accepting a job. If an employment route does not fit, Kansas Workforce Partnership reviews eligible adults and dislocated workers for WIOA-funded training; the Full Employment Council offers training assistance on the Missouri side.
The routes in this table train bus drivers. Kansas's CDL manual explains that Class B covers large buses and straight trucks, while Class A covers qualifying combination vehicles. For a tractor-trailer goal, confirm you will receive Class A instruction and test in the appropriate vehicle. Bus training does not automatically provide that qualification.
The First Student Shawnee posting accepts applicants without a CDL and provides instruction toward the required license and endorsements. KCATA requires the appropriate permit before its training begins. Ask each employer which documents are needed at application, hiring and the first paid training day, because those are separate stages.
The Belton opening lists $15.00 an hour during CDL training. The Olathe opening lists $16.75 an hour during training. These amounts differ from the published rates for licensed drivers. Ask how many weekly training hours are paid and when payroll begins. Also request the current offer and any conditions attached to bonuses or training costs.
The Missouri CDL manual and Kansas driving handbook set commercial licensing ages at 18 for intrastate operation and 21 for interstate operation. Employers can set additional hiring requirements. For example, the First Student Excelsior Springs opening requires age 21 and a driver's license held for at least three years. Check the job's rules as well as the state's.
The FMCSA provider guide tells you to search by training type and location and ask about enrollment and fees. A school-bus location may offer different training from a Class A truck school. Confirm who supplies the theory portion, range practice and public-road driving, and who submits each completion record before you schedule testing.
Workforce Partnership offers training services at no cost to eligible participants in its Adult and Dislocated Worker programs. FMCSA also directs applicants to workforce offices for funding help. Ask a local American Job Center to review your preferred occupation, course and provider before you pay a deposit. Funding approval and a job offer are separate decisions.
We check these pages when we update this guide. If something has changed, tell us.
Use each employer's own hiring page after checking the vehicle class, training pay, assigned location and written work terms.