CDL Training School in Gary, Indiana
Driving Academy helps drivers get the training they need with programs that meet their needs. With CDL driver training in Gary, Indiana, students can enroll in Class A CDL and Class B CDL programs. This school features a separate maneuvering location with one acre of land for practicing. Take the first step toward your career as a truck driver with training at Driving Academy.
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Meet Driving Academy in Gary, IN.
Getting people on the Road to Freedom is what we do best!
- Guaranteed CDL Training Courses
- Open 7 Days Per Week
- Nights & Weekend Training
- Start with Just $500 Down
- Free Lifetime Job Placement
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Why Choose Driving Academy in Gary, IN?
Take the first step toward your career as a truck driver with CDL driver training in Gary, Indiana, at Driving Academy. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need through traditional classroom instruction and hands-on training at our one-acre maneuvering location.
Students get access to advanced driving simulators for additional training to prepare for your CDL road test.
Lifetime career placement services are also available to help drivers find jobs.
With payment plans starting as low as $500 down, we strive to make CDL driver training more cost-effective for all students in Gary, IN.
Indiana
Driving Academy – Gary
2129 Cline Ave.
Gary, IN 46406
219-810-6462
Se habla español
Maneuvering Location (Training Yard)
429 Blaine St.
Gary, IN 46406Â
School Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
Training Yard Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
CDL Training Programs in Gary, IN
The Gary, IN, school offers CDL driver training for Class A and Class B CDLs. How do these commercial driver’s licenses differ? A Class A CDL allows you to drive vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds with trailers weighing more than 10,000 pounds. A Class B CDL lets you drive vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds with trailers weighing less than 10,000 pounds. Those who earn a Class A CDL can also operate Class B vehicles.
Students learn in a traditional classroom setting and gain practical experience at our separate maneuvering location, which is a convenient four minutes away from the school. The school is also near many roads and highways, including US20, US912, and I80/94, to give students more hands-on training in real-world settings to help them pass the CDL road test.
Driving Academy also offers students innovative training through state-of-the-art simulators. This advanced technology teaches students how to drive stick shifts and allows them to train in realistic, simulated environments. It prepares them for the numerous scenarios they might experience as truck drivers, from driving in cities and rough terrains to parking safely.
Opportunity to Take Different Training Courses at Driving Academy in Gary, IN
Students who enroll at Driving Academy in Gary, Indiana, can take advantage of a variety of training courses within each CDL licensing class, including:
- These courses are the most comprehensive that Driving Academy offers. They include over 100 hours of training, with classroom instruction designed to help you pass the written tests for your CDL permit.
- These courses also provide extensive yard and road training to ensure you pass the CDL road test. Students receive unlimited road test attempts and vehicle rentals, ensuring full support until they pass both the written and road tests for a CDL permit.
- Driving Academy’s full courses are structured to transform our students from beginners to skilled drivers.
- The full courses combine classroom training and hands-on behind-the-wheel training in our Gary, Indiana yard.
- These courses prepare students to pass the written exams for a CDL permit and the CDL road test.
- These courses are tailored for those who already possess a CDL permit and need to prepare for and pass the CDL road test.
- Students skip the classroom training and focus on yard training.
- Our yard training includes inspection training, basic skills/parking maneuvers, and proper road driving techniques.
About Our CDL School in Gary, IN
Driving Academy’s story begins with Jonathan, the school’s founder, who saw a need for quality CDL training programs for drivers at all levels.Â
Driving Academy is the response to this need, as drivers across the U.S. enroll in programs to begin their journeys to careers as CDL truck drivers.Â
The Gary, IN, location opened on July 1, 2024, and represents Driving Academy’s efforts to spread its CDL training school nationwide.
Instructors at Our CDL Training School
Driving Academy ensures students learn from experienced instructors committed to helping them succeed. Jose Arellano leads the team at the Gary, IN, location and has decades of flatbed and heavy hauling experience. We have instructors who speak English and Spanish.
About Our Gary, IN Facility
Indiana is considered the Crossroads of America – the perfect location for a CDL training school. What’s more, Indiana features one of the most active trucking industries in the U.S. and is one of the top states for truck driving careers.
CDL truck drivers in Indiana benefit from proximity to major cities and regions that serve as popular headquarters for truck driving jobs.
Our school is only 10 minutes from Illinois and 40 minutes from Michigan. We’re also close to I80/94, and Indiana is home to many interstates connected to areas throughout the U.S.
Learn about the owners of CDL Driving Academy- Gary, IN
Driving Academy in Gary, IN, is built on a foundation deeply rooted in the trucking industry, shaped by a legacy of family dedication and expertise. This journey started in February 1994 when Jose Arellano, with the support of his wife Maria, joined his older brothers in becoming a CDL driver. Known for his hard work, he earned safety and driver awards early in his career. Recognizing potential in steel transportation, he invested in his first semi-truck and became an owner-operator.
In 1996, Jose and Maria established Arellano Trucking Incorporated in Gary, IN. Maria played a crucial role in business operations and accounting, a responsibility she continues to handle to this day. By 1999, they acquired a 3-acre property that remains the company headquarters. As the business grew, Jose transitioned from driving full-time to managing operations. By 2006, the company had expanded to seven trucks and six drivers, and by 2008, he was managing a fleet of 15 trucks.
Jose’s hands-on approach and strong family values inspired his son, Jose Arellano Jr., to join the family business. Starting at 16, Jose Jr. gained firsthand experience during summers working for the company. In 2017, he graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and stepped into the role of Vice President. Under their leadership, the company earned its own DOT authority in 2018, further cementing its reputation as a reliable partner in the trucking industry.
 In 2024, the Arellano family expanded their impact by opening a Driving Academy franchise in Gary, IN. The decision was a natural extension of their mission, as Jose Sr. had spent years mentoring and training drivers to excel, even before formal CDL schooling was required. Recognizing how a CDL could transform lives and families, the family was motivated to provide aspiring drivers with the tools to succeed. Many drivers mentored by Jose have gone on to lead prosperous and fulfilling lives, a testament to the life-changing opportunities trucking offers.
Jaquelyne Arellano, the youngest family member, joined Driving Academy after graduating from Indiana University. She played a pivotal role in launching the school and now manages sales, marketing, and operations alongside her brother, Jose Jr., who serves as the school director.
Together, they ensure that the academy upholds the family’s high standards of quality and care.
Jose’s extensive trucking experience naturally led him to become the school’s lead instructor. His approachable teaching style has made Driving Academy a trusted place for aspiring CDL drivers. The Arellano family is dedicated to providing students with the tools they need to succeed in the trucking industry, building on a legacy of hard work and commitment
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Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 18 years old with a VALID Drivers License. You must be 21 or older if you want to travel outside of your home state for work.
You must get a DOT physical completed at a DOT Certified Doctor. Please call your school location for more information.
No you do not! We have many types of CDL courses available at Driving Academy. We have CDL half courses available for people who already have their permit. This course will get you ready to pass the CDL road test.
You ONLY need 3 things in order to get your CDL.
- Valid Drivers License
- Be healthy enough to pass a DOT physical
- Have a Social Security Number
The CDL road test can only be done in English. This means you will have to understand verbal directions in English to take the test. However, the written tests can be done in Spanish or English. Driving Academy has instructors that can speak Spanish and help you get ready for the CDL road test!
Yes, as long as your driver’s license is still valid you can get a CDL. When you sign up with our CDL school, we will even help you find a job with our lifetime Job Placement Program!
Yes, you can do a CDL road test in a truck that features an automatic transmission! However, you will have an automatic restriction on your CDL license if you do.
Driving Academy offers BOTH types of transmission options. Our students pick whether they want a truck with an automatic or manual transmission.
