CDL Direct Course vs Crane Operator Prep
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CDL Direct Course
This FMCSA-approved course fulfills the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirement for obtaining a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). Complete all mandated theory training online, anytime, anywhere, and have your results instantly submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
- FMCSA-approved ELDT
- Online course completion
- Instant FMCSA registry submission
- Accessible on any device
- Flexible scheduling
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FMCSA-APPROVED CDL ENTRY LEVEL DRIVER TRAINING (ELDT) Individuals who obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) on or after February 7, 2022 will need to complete this course before they will be permitted to take their CDL skills or knowledge test. Upon completion of this course the results will instantly be submitted to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Prior to providing any testing services CDL testing centers will retrieve these results from the FMCSA Training Provider Registry to confirm that the student has completed the required ELDT theory training. This course covers all units for ELDT as mandated by the FMCSA. Follow the steps below to begin your journey to a new career. 1. Register For The Course - Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. You can begin the course immediately after registration. No classrooms, no lines. 2. Begin The Course - The course can be taken from any device, any place, anytime. We keep track of your progress. All you have to do is login and complete each section of the course when it fits your schedule. 3. Complete The Course - The moment you complete the course we report the completion to the Federal Registry. You can then begin the behind-the-wheel training.
Crane Operator Prep
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Pass the written CCO Mobile Crane Operator Core Examination. PrepSure is built for working operators — studying in a truck cab at 6am, on a jobsite during a break, or the night before the test. Large type, high contrast, big touch targets, and a real dark mode. No mascots, no streaks, no confetti. A tool, not a game. THE LOAD-CHART TRAINER No other app has one. Read a real capacity grid where structural and stability limits are legible on the chart itself, not buried a tap deeper. Tap any cell to see which limit governs, explained in plain language. Then build your rigging deductions and watch the net capacity fall — because forgetting a deduction is the single most common way to fail the load-chart questions, and this makes that omission impossible to miss. Range diagram and work-area chart included. 400 QUESTIONS AT THE REAL EXAM WEIGHTS Site (20%), Operations (26%), Technical Knowledge (28%) and Manufacturers' Load Charts (26%) — the same proportions the exam uses, so your practice reflects the real thing. Every question was written from public federal regulation and reviewed by a certified crane operator. EVERY ANSWER EXPLAINED Not just which option is right, but why each wrong one is wrong, with the regulation cited and a link to read the actual text. Missed a question? It comes back, spaced so the ones you keep getting wrong come round more often. SIX WAYS TO STUDY Quick 10 · Timed 20 · Full Mock (90 questions, 90 minutes, scored) · Weakest Subject · Missed Questions · Flagged. KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY A readiness score weighted the way the exam weights its domains — so being strong in a light domain can't hide being weak in a heavy one. WORKS COMPLETELY OFFLINE Every question, chart and explanation lives on your phone. No signal needed, no account, no sign-up. Nothing you do in this app leaves your device — we collect nothing. TRY IT FREE 45 questions free, sampled across all four domains so you can judge the real mix. Unlock everything with one payment. No subscription. IMPORTANT This app prepares you for the WRITTEN Core examination only. It does not prepare you for the practical (hands-on) exam, and it does not cover the specialty exams you also need to be certified. All cranes and load charts in this app are fictional training models created for teaching. They are never manufacturer data and must never be used to plan a real lift. PrepSure is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators. CCO and NCCCO are trademarks of their respective owners.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Crane Operator Prep at every 5 days against CDL Direct Course's every 2 months. Crane Operator Prep also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. CDL Direct Course sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Crane Operator Prep sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CDL Direct Course ships an update every 2 months, Crane Operator Prep every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CDL Direct Course | Crane Operator Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (1.9K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CDL Direct | Shabnam Mohammad |
Bugs and requests
CDL Direct Course
Reported bugs
2 issues- No record of completion at DMV
- Unable to create account
Requested features
2 requests- Ability to enlarge text
- Option to use audio
Crane Operator Prep
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CDL Direct Course
- Class A CDL Course - Ages 18+$399.99
- Class B CDL Course - Ages 18+$399.99
- B to A CDL Upgrade - Ages 18+$399.99
Crane Operator Prep
- Lifetime Access$69.99
Questions
Is CDL Direct Course free?
Is Crane Operator Prep free?
Do CDL Direct Course or Crane Operator Prep have ads?
Which is updated more often, CDL Direct Course or Crane Operator Prep?
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