Chesterton, Indiana residents looking to earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL) don’t have to travel far for industry-leading training. Just over an hour away, Truck Driver Institute’s (TDI) South Bend campus offers fast, affordable, and trusted CDL training to help you start a new career in trucking.
With over 45 years of experience and partnerships with leading carriers nationwide, TDI South Bend is the smart choice for anyone in Chesterton ready to get behind the wheel and on the road to success.
24645 IN-23
South Bend, IN 46614
United States (US)
Phone: 1-800-848-7364
Campus Highlights:
✔ 18+ acre private training yard
✔ 2023 Freightliner Cascadia trucks
✔ Hands-on, behind-the-wheel training
✔ On-site CDL testing for your convenience
✔ Industry-experienced instructors
✔ Free lifetime job placement assistance
Partner With the Best. A Few of Our Carrier Partners:
Why Chesterton Residents Choose TDI South Bend
High Job Placement Success
- 80% of students secure jobs before graduation
- Access to 20+ national and regional trucking carriers
- Free lifetime job placement support
Fast & Comprehensive CDL Training
- Earn your Class A CDL in just 3 weeks
- Learn on real trucks (no simulators)
- Practice on a private range before hitting the road
- Personalized instruction from experienced truck drivers
Flexible Tuition & Financial Assistance
- Start with as little as $225 down
- Scholarships for veterans, career changers, and single parents
- Many carrier partners offer tuition reimbursement
3-WEEK TRAINING. Over 80% JOB PLACEMENT.
FILL OUT OUR FORM TO START THE JOURNEY TO BECOMING A TRUCK DRIVER AT ONE OF OUR 10 LOCATIONS.
Accelerate Your Future

Best CDL Training Indiana Has to Offer
Open yourself up to a world of employment opportunities with the kind of CDL Training Indiana job-seekers shouldn’t miss out on. Our training is some of the most in-depth, and our instructors are well-versed and experienced in the field. CDL training is a vital resource for any upcoming big truck driver and luckily, the best options for CDL training are right here in Indiana at the Truck Driving Institute. CDL training is vital to being licensed to drive and handle different types of freight and gaining the experience needed. CDL training offers you many avenues, meaning you will have more choices for your future! Although CDL training may take quite a bit of effort and a boatload of time, truck drivers everywhere can reap the benefits of this rewarding commercial license and carve out a great future for themselves. It can be daunting to make the decision to pursue formal training for your CDL license, but the process is wholly beneficial and a practical expense that keeps on giving. Benefits can include more choice of what you would like to drive and get rid of any possible limitations based on only obtaining one type of CDL–more pay based on experience and licensure, more access to other employers that TDI works with, and more. If you’re still on the fence about getting your CDL training from TDI, take a look at some of the awesome advantages below that our premiere driving school offers.
Your CDL Journey in 3 Weeks
Week 1: Classroom Training & CDL Permit
- Master FMCSA safety standards
- Learn vehicle inspection procedures
- Pass your CDL permit test
Week 2: Behind-the-Wheel Training
- Backing maneuvers (90-degree, alley dock, parallel parking)
- Shifting and handling 10-speed manual trucks
- Private driving range + low-traffic road practice
Week 3: Real-World Driving & CDL Exam
- Navigate city streets and highways
- Train for night driving and complex road conditions
- Take your final CDL exam on-site
TDI vs. Vocational School
TDI | Vocational School | |
---|---|---|
ELDT training | ✓ | |
Ongoing job placement | ✓ | |
Comprehensive 3-week program | ✓ | |
Hands-on training (no simulators) | ✓ | |
On-site training and testing | ✓ | |
Established since 1973 | ✓ | |
80% job placement with thecarrier of your choice | ✓ | |
Freedom to choose your employer | ✓ | |
Contract requirements with carriers | X | |
Lower pay right out of graduation | X | |
Simulator training | X |
Truck Driver, TDI, and the Future You
Truck driving has always been a recession-proof career regardless of the day, month, year, or decade. One of the critical indicators of a recession is when personal consumption expenditure increases for the national average. This means that the more people buy goods or treat themselves to something, the more likely a recession will be. But which industry benefits from more economic consumption and expenditure? The transportation and truck driving industry! The more money spent, the more goods transferred nationwide–meaning truck driving jobs will always be safe during a recession.
Want a convenient place to take your CDL exam?
Truck Driver Institute offers outside CDL testing at this location for all students, regardless of their affiliation with TDI.
Easy Drive from Chesterton to South Bend
Getting from Chesterton, IN to TDI South Bend is straightforward:
- Take I-80/90 E (Indiana Toll Road) toward South Bend
- Exit onto US-31 S toward South Bend
- Follow IN-23 S to campus
- Estimated Drive Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
So you can get a better idea for how things work around here, here’s a quick breakdown of our 3 week training program:
Week 1
The first week involves the majority of your classroom time, and it’s centered around getting your CDL permit. The CDL permit is a necessary piece of documentation for your behind-the-wheel training later on.
In addition, this first week acts like a primer for all the required non-driving skills you need as a truck driver. Our students learn the ins-and-outs of trip planning, cargo claims, maintenance basics, writing driver’s logs, map inspection, weight scales, Smith systems, and more.
The first week of truck driving school is also when you’re introduced to our placement experts. Depending on your career goals, your regional preferences, and benefits you’re looking for, the placement expert works with you to craft a plan for employment after you get your CDL at TDI.
Week 2
The second week is when you get your behind-the-wheel training. Over the course of the second week, our students work closely with our driving instructors who have years and years of on-the-road experience.
The majority of your driving training takes place on our private, multi acre range. It’s separated from the main roads, and it’s a great place for new drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel before hitting the streets.
After some time on the private courses, our instructors take our students out for some low-traffic driving sessions during the day.
Week 3
The third and final week is where you apply everything you’ve learned in the classroom and on our private course. Our instructors walk you through high-traffic, night driving, and other complex road conditions until you’re comfortable and confident in the driver’s seat.
After that, all that’s left to do is take your final exam. This involves a mixture of highway driving and on-site drills. After you pass, you receive your professional CDL that certifies you to operate a full sized 18 wheeler.
As you may have noticed, we begin the job placement process long before you even set foot in a truck. TDI is a results-driven school, and we do the best we can to make sure you’re paired with a new job after you’ve left our truck driving schools in Indiana. Some students are selected before they graduate!
Things to Do Around Chesterton & South Bend
During your CDL training at TDI South Bend, you’ll enjoy easy access to great local spots:
Before Class:
Grab breakfast at Third Coast Spice Cafe in Chesterton
After Class:
Visit Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan
Explore downtown South Bend’s shops and restaurants
Ready to Get on the Road?
Take the first step toward a rewarding career as a professional truck driver. TDI South Bend provides Chesterton residents with everything needed to succeed in the trucking industry.
24645 IN-23
South Bend, IN 46614
United States (US)
Phone: 1-800-848-7364
CALL US TODAY AT 800-848-7364
You can also contact us by filling out this quick and easy contact form. Once submitted we will be in contact with you as soon as we can.
*For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 33) students and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e) which means Post 9/11 and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments. For eligibility consideration, a Post 9/11 GI Bill® student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Student must provide a VAF 28-1905 form. Students must provide school with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) prior to beginning class, but not later than the first day of training. A print screen of Statement of Benefits page will be accepted in lieu of COE and verification of benefits will be required. Please see 38 USC 3679(e) for complete details. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Public Notice of Title VI Program Rights
The Truck Driver Institute, Inc. gives public notice of its’ policy to uphold and assure full compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related Nondiscrimination authorities. Title VI and related Nondiscrimination authorities stipulate that no person in the United States of America shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or Limited English Proficiency be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Any person who desires more information regarding Truck Driver Institute Inc.’s Title VI Program can contact its Title VI Coordinator – Mark Carey — at the address noted below. Any person who believes they have, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or Limited English Proficiency has the right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted within 180 days following the date of the alleged occurrence to: Title VI Program Coordinator Mark Carey / Truck Driver Institute Inc. PO Box 1599 Murfreesboro TN 37133 615-895-2070