CDL Training Des Plaines, IL
Start Your New Career as a Professional Truck Driver in Des Plaines
Get your commercial driver’s license in 4 weeks. Our CDL training pairs classroom instruction with real time behind the wheel. Prepare for your exam and build the skills the job requires. Then start driving.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 out of 5
1,084 Reviews
Enrollment Open
Get Started For
$500 Down
Flexible payment plans available.
Start your CDL training now.
*$500 down starts your enrollment. Flexible payment plans available. Ask about monthly options and eligibility.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 out of 5
1,084 Reviews
Enrollment Open
Get Started For
$500 Down
Flexible payment plans available.
Start your CDL training now.
*$500 down starts your enrollment. Flexible payment plans available. Ask about monthly options and eligibility.
Real Student Success Stories
Recent Graduates From Des Plaines, IL
Real students. Real success. Our truck drivers complete their truck driver training program and pass their CDL exam on the first try to build successful trucking careers.
Drivers Trained Since 2018
Average Pay for Chicago Area Truck Drivers, Per BLS
First Time Pass Rate
Job Placement Rate for Our Graduates
Driving School in Des Plaines, IL
Professional Truck Driver Training Serving Cook County
Alpha serves students from Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, and the O’Hare area across Cook County. Our classroom sits 14 miles southwest, in Addison. Instructors cover pre-trip inspection, safety procedures, and the skills the CDL exam tests.
Des Plaines Truck Driving School
Des Plaines sits at the crossroads of I-90 and I-294, minutes from O’Hare. Carriers and distribution operations throughout that corridor hire commercial drivers year round. Our Addison classroom is 14 miles southwest.
Cook County’s logistics corridor runs right through town, and plenty of that work stays local. Weekday, evening, and weekend sections mean you train without putting your life on hold. At Alpha you get:
⭐ 275,000 sq ft of private lot with no traffic on it
⭐ Simulator hours before your first time in a truck
⭐ Staff answering in English, Spanish, or Polish
⭐ 160 hours: 100 classroom, 60 behind the wheel
⭐ Tuition in the lower half of this market
⭐ Sections on weekdays, evenings, and weekends
Areas We Service In The Des Plaines Metro Area
Also Serving: Park Ridge · Niles · Morton Grove · Glenview
City/Township: Des Plaines Maine
Zip Code: 60016, 60018
County: Cook
CDL Classes In Des Plaines, IL
Alpha serves Des Plaines and the surrounding north Cook County region. The city sits where I-90 and I-294 meet, with freight moving through daily. Our classroom is 14 miles southwest in Addison.
Our classes cover what the exam tests. You learn safe driving standards, pre-trip inspections, and skill maneuvers. State certified instructors work beside you behind the wheel. No rushing. No shortcuts.
Your driving hours run at our private lot in West Chicago. That is 275,000 sq ft with room to work and no traffic. Twenty of your sixty wheel hours happen on the range. You reach test day prepared.
Direction to our Addison Classroom
How To Get To Our CDL Training Facility From Des Plaines, IL
Get on I-294 S in Park Ridge
Continue on I-294 S to Elmhurst. Take exit 12 from I-290 W
Follow W Lake St to your destination in Addison
Alpha Truck Driving School
1250 W Lake St, Addison, IL 60101
Truck Driving Career Opportunities in Des Plaines, IL
Where Your CDL Training Can Take You
Licensed drivers stay in demand across Cook County. BLS puts average Chicago area pay at $62,320 a year. Class A drivers in this market earn $57,000 to $89,000. Class B drivers earn $43,000 to $55,000.
Over-the-Road Truck Driver
Drive across the country and see new places. OTR drivers haul freight long distances on multi state routes. You’ll spend days or weeks on the road at a time.
Regional Truck Driver
Work within a few states and get home more often. Regional drivers typically cover routes within 500 miles. Good pay with better work-life balance than long-haul driving.
Flatbed Truck Driver
Transport construction materials, equipment, and oversized loads. Flatbed driving requires extra skills in loading and securing cargo. CDL holders in this field often earn top pay.
Garbage Truck Driver
Operate garbage trucks and waste collection vehicles. These jobs offer steady work with good pay in every city.
City Bus Driver
Transport passengers on city buses and public transit routes. Master passenger safety and urban driving skills.
Delivery Truck Driver
Operate straight trucks for local deliveries. These are the most common Class B vehicles on the road today.
35 Minutes from Des Plaines
South Arlington Heights Road runs most of it. Fourteen miles to our Addison classroom, no tolls.
A Schedule That Holds Up
Weekday, evening, and weekend sections run. Most students keep working through the entire program.
99% Pass on First Attempt
That is Alpha’s rate. More than 5,000 drivers have trained here since 2018.
Practice Space, Not Traffic
Our lot spans 275,000 private square feet. Twenty of your sixty wheel hours run on the range.
CDL Training Programs
Start CDL Training To Become a Truck Driver
We offer Class A and Class B training. Pick the program that fits your goals.
CDL Class A
Drive big rigs and tractor-trailers. This is the highest paid CDL. Most students finish in 4 weeks. We help you get hired.
Duration
4 weeks
Salary Range
$57K – $89K
CDL Class B
Drive box trucks, dump trucks, and buses. Great for local routes that get you home at night. Finish in 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks
Salary Range
$43K – $55K
CDL Upgrade Course
Already have a Class B? Upgrade to Class A. Get access to better paying jobs. Learn to drive tractor-trailers.
Duration
4 weeks
Added Pay
$14K – $34K
CDL Refresher Course
Get back on the road. For drivers with expired or valid CDL licenses. Brush up your skills. Build your confidence.
Duration
4 weeks
Ideal For
Return drivers
Pay ranges reflect Chicago area data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ZipRecruiter, 2026.
Des Plaines, IL Testimonial
Google Reviews from Des Plaines CDL Training Graduates
Real reviews from students who trained with us. Real truck drivers. Real success.
“They Kept Pushing. I’m Glad They Did.“
Johnny D. | Des Plaines, IL | Class A Graduate – Mar 2023
Greatly appreciate everything these amazing group of instructors did for me for continuing to push even when I wanted to just give up. I would recommend this school to everyone as it is definitely one of the best school around. Truly a great experience and opportunity.
Why Become a Truck Driver?
The Work Is Here and It Pays
Metro Chicago moves more freight than anywhere else in the country. Employers post 237,600 driver openings nationwide every year. The pay is steady and you can train in four weeks.
Chicago Moves America’s Freight
Half of all intermodal trains in the country pass through metro Chicago. One quarter of all US freight trains do too.
The region holds 1.1 billion square feet of industrial space. More than 63,000 truck drivers already work here.
That freight is not moving somewhere else. You train where the work already is.
237,600 Driving Jobs Open Every Year
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks driver demand. It projects 237,600 openings each year through 2034.
Many open because drivers retire or move to other work. The field is also adding 89,300 jobs over the decade.
More than 2.2 million people already drive for a living. Get your CDL and you can be ready in four weeks.
New English Rules Took Effect in 2025
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires CDL drivers to read and speak English. You must understand road signs, talk with the public, and answer officers.
Since June 25, 2025, officers have pulled thousands of drivers off the road. Fail the check and you cannot drive until you pass.
Alpha teaches in English and supports you in Spanish and Polish. You leave ready for the road and the inspection.
What Chicago Drivers Earn
Tractor trailer drivers nationwide earn a median of $57,440 a year. Chicago pays above that. Federal wage data for the Chicago metro puts the average at $62,320.
Class A drivers here earn roughly $57,000 to $89,000. Class B drivers earn $43,000 to $55,000.
Chicago’s top earning Class A drivers clear $95,000. Endorsements and specialty routes get you there faster.
We Help You Get Hired
Training is only half the job. Alpha works with carriers across the region. We connect you with the ones hiring.
You finish with options, not guesswork. Our staff learns what you want. Then we help you pick the right fit.
The help does not stop at your first job. Come back anytime you want a better route or more pay.
Des Plaines Residents Ask. We Answer.
Get clear answers about CDL training, licensing, and starting a new trucking career in Cook County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your CDL Journey Starts Here
Start Now. Make More.
Fill out the form and a rep gets you registered fast. Classes fill quickly.