New guide offers Spanish speakers resources to train for a commercial driver’s license

Para la versión en español, oprima aquí.

LYONS, NEBRASKA — A new guide from the Center for Rural Affairs equips Spanish-speaking Nebraskans with information on earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

The “Nebraska Commercial Driver’s License Resource Guide” offers a step-by-step overview of the state’s CDL process and provides information on how to access translated resources. Before this publication, a Spanish-language CDL guide did not exist for Nebraska drivers.

“Our goal is to ensure that language does not become a barrier to stable, well-paying employment,” said Audra Espinoza, Nebraska Policy Manager with the Center for Rural Affairs. “This guide is one way we can help individuals pursue careers in trucking while supporting the economic health of our rural communities by meeting labor and supply chain demands for modern businesses.”

According to the Nebraska Trucking Association, more than 48% of Nebraska communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. Nebraska is part of a national trend of a shortage of qualified truck drivers. The American Trucking Association notes that as of 2025, there is a deficit of more than 60,000 drivers statewide.

While Nebraska requires all CDL tests to be taken in English, the Center for Rural Affairs guide provides an entry point for prospective drivers who may face language barriers.

The publication is being released to coincide with the Center for Rural Affairs Trucking Academy, a one-day event that trains participants on starting their own trucking enterprise, understanding state and federal requirements, how to prepare for the Department of Transportation testing, and more. Registration is open for the Trucking Academy in Grand Island on May 31, and can be accessed at cfra.org/events.

To read and download the “Nebraska Commercial Driver’s License Resource Guide,” visit cfra.org/publications.