A fast and accurate guide to ELDT-compliant CDL schools in Indy—including costs, program length, exam prep, and placement help.
While compiling our list of some of the top CDL programs in Indianapolis, we took into account Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) compliance, access to third-party testing, employer partnerships, equipment quality, schedule flexibility, graduate reviews, and when available, state exam pass rates.
CDL Training Indianapolis at a Glance
- While the course length will vary by school, full-time programs can be completed in a few weeks, with part-time programs extending up to a few months.
- Typical tuition costs for CDL programs range from about $3,000 to more than $10,000. However, you’ll also need to factor in additional costs such as application, testing, and license fees.
- Payment options for CDL schools include employer sponsorships with local carriers, federal workforce development grants, GI Bill grants, and loans.
- In addition to the three classes of commercial driver’s licenses (A, B, and C), some may also choose to pursue special endorsements, such as hazardous materials, passenger transport, double or triple trailers, and more.
- Many schools offer flexible scheduling options, to open the door to people with existing work or family obligations. Because of this, programs may be available in part-time, night, or weekend schedules, to help more students gain the practical skills necessary to start a rewarding career in the trucking industry.
Top Indianapolis Truck Driving Schools (In No Particular Order)
160 Driving Academy
160 Driving Academy is the largest CDL training school in the United States, with more than 150 locations across the country. Because of this, prospective truck drivers don’t have to look far to find programs in Class A CDLs and refresher courses, HAZMAT certifications, and more. They even offer online ELDT theory classes for free!
Length: Four weeks
Financing: Federal grants, tuition reimbursement, company sponsorship, private loans
Job Placement: Access to lifetime career guidance and membership to Truckers Network
Endorsements: HAZMAT
C1 Truck Driver Training
The oldest CDL school in Indianapolis, C1 has been training future truck drivers since 1987. They not only offer programs in both class A and class B licenses, but also in pintle hook, passenger and HAZMAT endorsements, and even business CDL training. For those who had previously received an automatic CDL, they also offer a manual transmission program, so that the automatic restriction can be removed.
Length: Two weeks–one month
Financing: Federal grants, tuition reimbursement, company sponsorship, private loans
Job Placement: Access to lifetime job placement assistance and corporate hiring partnerships
Endorsements: HAZMAT, Passenger
DriveCo CDL Learning Center
Since 1990, DriveCo has committed to its mission “to provide students with the quality CDL training necessary to launch their career as a commercial driver for over-the-road, short-haul, or local delivery.” They not only offer standard classes in Class A CDL, but also refresher courses and private education.
Length: 160 hours (four weeks full-time, 10 weeks part-time)
Financing: Company sponsorship, tuition reimbursement, payment plans
Job Placement: Access to a job placement team to help graduates find employment with hiring partners.
Endorsements: N/A
Indy CDL Academy
The goal of Indy CDL Academy is to equip their students with the confidence and skills needed to have a successful career, whether they’re beginners or advanced drivers. They offer a range of programs to cater to those with various levels of experience, including night classes in addition to daytime courses.
Length: Four weeks
Financing: Federal grants
Job Placement:
Endorsements: HAZMAT, Passenger, School Bus
On The Move Trucking Academy
This trucking school, which provides training for both Class A and B CDLs, works to help their students move in the right direction for a successful career as a truck driver, from learning theory in the classroom to gaining real-world experience with carrier partners.
Length: Two–four weeks
Financing: Federal grants, company sponsorship
Job Placement: Job placement assistance through company partnerships
Endorsements: HAZMAT, Passenger, School Bus
The CDL Academy
Whether you’re looking to begin or upgrade your CDL career, this school aims to provide you with the necessary knowledge in both safe and efficient driving. They also offer flexibility in scheduling, to help accommodate those with existing work or family commitments.
Length: Typically three weeks, with flexible scheduling options available
Financing: N/A
Job Placement: Job placement assistance through various employer partnerships
Endorsements: HAZMAT
How to Choose the Best CDL Schools in Indianapolis for You
- Manual vs. automatic training. Depending on the type of driving you want to do, and what’s available in your area, you’ll need to find a school that trains you in the right type of vehicle. After all, you don’t want to enroll in a program only to find that you’ll learn only automatic transmission, while all your job prospects require training manual transmissions.
- Recruiter promises vs. written guarantees. Too often, people will make grand promises to prospective students, claiming that they can guarantee them a job post-program, without following through on those promises post-graduation. This is why it’s more prudent to have written guarantees from the institution, so you can have documentation of what is offered, such as whether they have partnerships with carriers who will hire their students.
- Hands-on driving practice and classroom instruction. Practical training is key to both strengthening your skills and boosting your desirability to potential employers. When researching a school, make sure they will spend an adequate amount of time with behind-the-wheel training, so you can get comfortable driving a large vehicle through hands-on practice.
- Student-to-truck ratio. As we mentioned above, time spent behind the wheel is crucial to your CDL training. This is why it can be beneficial to find a school with a low number of students compared to available trucks, so you can have more opportunities to practice driving with experienced instructors as opposed to waiting around for your classmates to have their turns.
Indiana Licensing and Requirements
Not everyone is eligible for a commercial driver’s license. In order to receive your CDL, there are several requirements you must meet.
- Age. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have had a driver’s license for at least one year. For passenger/interstate vehicles, they must be at least 21.
- DOT medical card. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that drivers also pass a health examination by an approved doctor listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s National Registry, in order to prove their physical fitness for driving commercial vehicles. The DOT physical exam is valid for up to 24 months, though a medical examiner may also issue a certificate for less than 24 months in order to monitor a certain condition (for example, high blood pressure).
- Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). This permit allows trainees to undergo supervised practice and skills tests, including vehicle inspection, basic controls, and on-the-road driving. In order to get your CLP, you must show proof of citizenship and residency, provide the proper medical paperwork, pass an eye exam, inform the BMV of any state where you’ve held a driver’s license in the past 10 years, pay the CLP fee, and complete a written knowledge test for your desired CDL class and any endorsements, if applicable.
- Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). In February 2022, the FMCSA’s Entry-Level Driver Training regulations went into effect, impacting both theory and behind-the-wheel training. These are to help ensure that commercial drivers have a higher level of standardized training, in order to prepare them for the responsibilities that come with operating large, heavy vehicles. First-time applicants must complete an ELDT program, as well as those looking to upgrade their CDL class or add S, P, or H endorsement for the first time.
- Endorsements. Licenses are categorized into three classes: A (tractor-trailers), B (single large vehicles), and C (small HazMat/passenger vans). In addition to getting your Class A, B, or C license, you may also need to obtain additional endorsements depending on the type of driving you want to pursue. These include hazardous materials (H), tanks (N), passenger transport (P), school bus (S), double or triple trailers (T), and combination of tank vehicles and hazardous materials (X).
Cost of CDL Training and How to Pay
The tuition for a CDL training program can cost from $3,000 to more than $10,000, depending on the program and location.1 However, there are multiple other costs to take into account, such as application and test fees, endorsement fees (if applicable), and the cost of the actual license itself. Luckily, there’s a range of payment options to help mitigate the cost of your training, so you can choose the one that works best for you, including:
- Paying upfront. The most straightforward of the options, this means that students will pay the full tuition out of pocket.
- Carrier sponsorship. With this method, carriers will pay all or part of a student’s tuition, in exchange for that student agreeing to work for the carrier for a certain amount of time after their training. It’s important to remember that, should you leave employment before the required timeline, you may be required to pay back the tuition that the employer covered.
- Workforce grants. You may also want to look into government-sponsored programs that provide grants for technical training schools, covering partial or full tuition. Contact your school to learn if they’re eligible for any of these grants.
- GI Bill. If you’re eligible for veteran benefits, you may also be able to pay for your CDL education through the GI Bill®, which can cover up to full tuition for military personnel and veterans. You can find VA-approved schools by using their search tool.
- Loans. If you’re unable to pay the tuition out of pocket or through sponsorships or grants, you may also consider taking out a loan to break it up into smaller amounts. While most do not offer federal student loans, a school may provide private loan options. It’s important to remember, though, that should you choose this route, you’ll likely end up paying more in interest payments, and your credit score may be affected.
CDL Career Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth rate for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is 4% from 2024–2034, while delivery truck drivers can look forward to an 8% projected job growth.2,3 The BLS’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Map also puts Indiana as the 12th-highest employer of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the United States, as well as the state with the 12th-highest median annual wage for drivers.4
The types of entry-level jobs you can expect after your program will depend on the CDL class you’ve obtained, as well as any endorsements. For example, entry-level jobs for class A CDLs include, among others, over-the-road tractor-trailer drivers and interstate truck drivers. Meanwhile new drivers with a class B license can be a delivery driver, box truck driver, and more.
Indianapolis is home to several carriers hiring trained CDL drivers, as well as a vast network of freight corridors. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization mapped out the city’s freight system, noting the Primary Highway Freight Network in red, Remainder of Interstates and Commerce Corridors in yellow, Regional Freight Corridors in green, and Freight Connectors in blue.5
Examples of carriers in the Indy area include:
- Box Truxx
- Heritage Transport
- Leader Freight Systems
- VTI Specialized
- Wayne Transports
- XPress Cargo
- And much more!
FAQs
How fast can I get my CDL in Indianapolis?
According to the Indiana Motor Truck Association, typical CDL programs take an average of seven weeks to complete. However, this number can vary depending on the school, the type of CDL you’re pursuing, and whether you’re enrolling in a full-time or part-time program.
Is manual required?
Manual is not required for every CDL job, however there are several that do require training in manual transmission. It’s important to look into the qualifications needed for the type of driving you want to do, to ensure that you won’t be restricted by your license.
What’s the pass rate for CDL programs?
The CDL exam includes both a written test and a road test. The pass rate will vary based on a number of factors, including the quality of instruction, the difficulty of the license and/or endorsement, and your own aptitude for the field.
Sources
1https://www.roehl.jobs/blog/2024/cdl-training-cost
4https://data.bls.gov/oesmap/5https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/68236fafd1334aaca480a3dae928264c
