3 Reasons Why Veterans Make Great Truck Drivers

The top 3 reasons why veterans make great truck drivers are:

1. Your Military Skills Set You Apart
2. The Trucking Industry is Veteran-Friendly 
3. The GI Bill ®Covers Your Training Costs

If you’re an American military veteran looking to start the next chapter of your life, a career as a licensed commercial truck driver could be exactly what you’re looking for. Keep reading to learn more about the 3 reasons why veterans make great truck drivers, the benefits of earning a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and how Truck Driver Institute (TDI) can get military veterans behind the wheel in as little as 3 weeks. 

1. Your Military Skills Set You Apart

Whether you were active duty or reserve service member, your time in the military prepared you with the physical and mental skills that are necessary for a great commercial truck driving career. These skills are the backbone of why veterans make great truck drivers. Some of these skills include situational awareness and critical thinking, physical focus, dexterity, and stamina, and leadership and teamwork capabilities. 

 

Situational awareness and critical thinking

What would you do if one of your truck’s wheels went flat in the middle of a route? How would you react if you had to change your route mid-trip? What important steps would you recall from your training in the instance that you or your truck was in danger? Commercial truck driving is all about remaining calm in unexpected situations, staying focused on the route, and making informed decisions both on and off the clock. 

No one is better prepared for the mental demands of truck driving than former military service members. Veterans make great truck drivers because military training prepares you to handle tough scenarios with logic and resilience. Especially for former active duty service members, situational awareness is one of the top mental skills that military training equips you with. Veterans have the essential mental skills that commercial truckers need in order to do their best work. 

 

Physical dexterity and stamina

Physical fitness skills may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about commercial truck driving. However, fitness is the key to remaining steady and focused while on the road. Truck drivers often work unconventional hours that can be draining for many people. Truckers also must be physically prepared to drive for extended periods of time in order to meet important deadlines, load and unload their cargo in certain instances, and perform general maintenance on their truck to keep it running safely and smoothly. 

Dexterity and stamina are both important physical skills that military training brings to veterans. While some applicants may struggle to understand the importance of physical skills in a truck driving environment, veterans know just how important it is to be strong in both body and mind when approaching this job. Given this, it’s easy to see why veterans make great truck drivers. 

 

Teamwork, Communication, and Leadership

While truck drivers spend lots of time alone in the cabin, it’s a career that requires a lot of coordination, communication, and team effort. Between keeping your trucking company up-to-date with your progress, staying in touch with suppliers, and communicating with your loved ones during off time, there’s a lot of coordination that truckers must maintain to get the job done right and stay connected while on the road. 

This is another set of important skills that answers the question “why do veterans make great truck drivers?” As a former service member, you know the importance of communicating with leadership, maintaining personal and professional goals, and performing your duties for the betterment of your entire team. Veterans are uniquely prepared to handle the communication skills that truckers need to succeed. 

 

2. The Trucking Industry is Veteran-Friendly 

The trucking industry is very welcome to hiring military veterans and rewarding them for their service in various ways. Some trucking companies offer veterans with higher starting salaries, extended benefits, and additional time-off to thank them for their service to the country. Schneider, one of the partner companies that TDI works with, is one of these companies that offers real, valuable benefits to veteran service members. Working in the trucking industry means that veterans will work in a field that appreciates their service and gives them rewarding career opportunities. 

The trucking industry also offers a unique opportunity for military veterans who are currently on the job hunt. While veteran unemployment rose to unexpected numbers during 2020, data shows that the trucking industry is still experiencing a shortage of drivers. This is another unexpected way that the trucking industry offers a great opportunity for veterans who want to begin a new, stable career. 

 

3. The GI Bill ®Covers Your Training Costs

That’s right: the GI Bill ® will help cover the training costs of veteran service members looking to earn a Class A commercial driver’s license. Class A CDLs are the first commercial license that any trucker needs to begin their career on the road. Knowing that the costs of your training at a trucking school like Truck Driving Institute will be covered is one of the ways that the trucking industry is a great field for military veterans to join after their service is complete. 

 

Veterans, Jumpstart Your Truck Driving Career with TDI

Veterans deserve a reliable and rewarding career after finishing their service. Since 1973, TDI has been leading military veterans and other skilled individuals to successful careers in truck driving. We have more than 11 campuses across the United States, and also work with over 20 carrier partners to pair our graduates with the best trucking companies in the industry. With the help of our expert CDL instructors, you can start your trucking career in just 3 weeks.

If you’re an American military veteran looking to make the next move in your career, it’s time to take the first steps towards earning your commercial drivers license. Contact us to learn more about enrolling in TDI and jumpstarting your trucking career!