Shelbyville: Your Practical Path to a CDL Starts Here
Searching for a reliable CDL school in Shelbyville, TN? Head north to the Truck Driver Institute Nashville/Murfreesboro campus in Christiana. Our three-week program combines focused classroom instruction with extensive wheel time on a dedicated training range, so you build skill and confidence fast.
If you’re mapping out the steps from permit to skills test, this quick guide helps you plan: How to Become a Truck Driver: 3 Weeks to Your CDL. It pairs perfectly with our hands-on approach and ELDT-aligned training.
Seats fill quickly. Call 1-800-848-7364 or contact us online to register today!
6201 Epps Mill Road
Christiana, TN 37037
United States (US)
Phone: 1-800-848-7364
Campus Features
✔ ELDT-compliant curriculum taught by veteran instructors
✔ Real tractors & trailers (no simulator training)
✔ Expansive practice range for backing and maneuvers
✔ Focused three-week schedule with smart test prep
✔ Career services and carrier recruiting support
✔ Military-friendly financial options and guidance
✔ Plenty of wheel time with small group coaching
Partner With the Best. A Few of Our Carrier Partners:





TDI is registered as and compliant with the FMCSA's Entry Level Driver Training requirements. TDI is certified by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) for third-party testing. TDI is certified by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) for third-party testing. TDI is certified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for third-party testing. TDI is certified by the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDOS) for third-party testing.
Why choose TDI for your CDL training near Shelbyville?
Bedford County students choose TDI for a no-nonsense path into trucking—clear instruction, structured practice, and a fast, three-week timeline. From pre-trip to road test, you’ll develop the safe, professional habits carriers expect.
Here’s what you can count on:
- Step-by-step training that moves you steadily toward test day
- Experienced instructors who emphasize safety and situational awareness
- Job placement assistance with respected regional and national carriers
- Guidance on payment options, including military benefits
See what’s included at the Nashville (Christiana) campus.
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

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 |
Getting to TDI from Shelbyville, TN
Plan on driving roughly 30–40 minutes. Head north on US-231 N toward Murfreesboro. Continue onto TN-269 E until you reach our campus at 6201 Epps Mill Road, Christiana, TN 37037. It’s a straightforward, mostly-highway drive with easy local turns near the TDI campus.
Get Your CDL Near Shelbyville in Just 3 Weeks
Week 1: Building Foundations
- Know what really matters: As a truck driver, there are federal rules you need to understand and follow regarding weights and logs. We also teach scale etiquette and what officers check first so you’re always prepared.
- Gain knowledge in trucking systems: Make sure everything is as it should be with your air, cooling, electrical. You’ll understand what “normal” looks like and how to perform quick fault checks.
- A pre-trip you won’t forget: The key to a perfect pre-trip inspection is taking a fixed path around the rig with simple cues for hoses, hubs, pins, and lights. Practice makes perfect.
- CDL permit, without the panic: We help learners of all backgrounds and study preferences with proven short study sprints, targeted quizzes, and instructor Q&A so you can easily get your CDL permit.
Week 2: Developing Skills
- Your backing playbook: Backing up made easy. We show you how to set the angle, use clean reference points, correct early, and reset if things go sideways.
- Practicing your gears and pace: We take you through the drills needed so you can make smooth launches, skip-shifts, downshifts before turns, and steady control on grades.
- Hold your lane: Stay on track with mirror cadence, reading trailer swing, and keeping rubber off curbs.
- City vs. country reps: From tight downtown corners to school zones, rail crossings, long two-lane stretches, and more, our experienced instructors guide you through it all.
- Freeway intro: We take you to the interstate to practice on-ramp timing, gap selection, and dealing with wind and spray.
- Hands-on yard work: Gain confidence with coupling and uncoupling, line checks, tug tests, and brake sets on the same kinds of tractors you’ll test in so there’s never any doubt.
Week 3: Road Readiness
- Advanced control: You’ve got the basics down and you’ve practiced plenty already. Now we’ll introduce more advanced control via truck-stop parking, angled docks, and tidy setups in crowded yards.
- Run the CDL exam in order: To make sure you’re more than ready on test day, our instructors take you through pre-trip, backing, and road. We use timed reps, scored feedback, and one more clean lap so you can test with confidence.
- Come prepared to test day: We’ll help you make sure you’ve got your paperwork squared, truck prepared, and a calm routine from arrival to finish.
- Starting your career: Get introduced to recruiters from top carriers and talk about lanes, pay, and home time so you can lock in an orientation date.
Make the Most of Your Time in Middle Tennessee
Before, between, and after classes, check out family-friendly spots like Henry Horton State Park, the hands-on exhibits at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, or trails and ballfields at Barfield Crescent Park.
Ready to get started? Call 1-800-848-7364 or apply online to reserve your spot in the next class.
6201 Epps Mill Road
Christiana, TN 37037
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










Truck Driver Institute was the best choice for us. TDI allowed us to explore all carriers opportunities. The instructors were top notch, caring supportive and patient. We would recommend TDI to anyone interested in a career in the trucking industry.