Looking for CDL training near Lake Station, Indiana? The road to a secure and rewarding career starts just a short drive away at Truck Driver Institute’s (TDI) South Bend campus.
For over 45 years, TDI South Bend has helped drivers from Northwest Indiana — including Lake Station — earn their Class A CDL and land high-paying truck driving jobs across the country. Our 3-week program provides everything you need to get started in the trucking industry: hands-on training, modern trucks, expert instructors, and partnerships with leading carriers ready to hire you.
24645 IN-23
South Bend, IN 46614
United States (US)
Phone: 1-800-848-7364
Campus Features:
✔ 18+ acre private driving range
✔ 2023 Freightliner Cascadia trucks
✔ Hands-on training with no simulators
✔ On-site CDL testing for added convenience
✔ Experienced instructors with millions of safe driving miles
Partner With the Best. A Few of Our Carrier Partners:
Why Lake Station Trusts TDI South Bend
Proven Job Placement Success:
- 80% of students secure jobs before graduation
- 20+ national and regional carriers actively recruit TDI students
- Free lifetime job placement assistance
Fast-Track CDL Training:
- Earn your Class A CDL in just 3 weeks
- Train on the same trucks used by major fleets
- One-on-one coaching with experienced instructors
Flexible Financing Options:
- Start with just $225 down
- Scholarships available for veterans, career changers, and single parents
- Tuition reimbursement programs available through select carriers
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 3-Week CDL Roadmap
Week 1: Classroom & CDL Permit
- FMCSA safety regulations
- Vehicle inspections
- Trip planning & map reading
- CDL permit preparation
Week 2: Skills & Driving Practice
- Backing maneuvers & shifting techniques
- Private driving range practice
- Low-traffic road driving sessions
Week 3: Real-World Experience & Testing
- High-traffic and night driving practice
- Mock CDL testing on-site
- Final CDL exam with state-certified examiners
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.
Experience Lake Station Life + South Bend Training
While training at TDI South Bend, students from Lake Station can enjoy:
- Breakfast at Miller’s Hometown Diner before heading to campus
- Shopping or relaxing at University Park Mall in South Bend after class
- Exploring Indiana Dunes National Park on weekends
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!
Begin Your Trucking Career with Confidence
Join hundreds of successful drivers from Lake Station and Northwest Indiana who launched their trucking careers with TDI South Bend. With proven training, top-tier instructors, and lifetime job placement support, there’s no better place to start your journey.
Ready to Start CDL Training Near Lake Station?
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