America might run on Dunkin’, but even Dunkin’ has to get its coffee transported to its stores—and for that, it needs trucks, drivers, and a pipeline of people interested in trucking careers.
For some reason, America is always looking to lean on veterans to fill in its shortcomings. Remember when the country thought it was running out of teachers, so it started “Troops to Teachers” but didn’t really fully fund it? Well, now the government is looking to service members to fill the ranks of big rig truckers.
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There is a real problem with trucking in America today. The industry faces a shortage of up to 80,000 drivers, not to mention high turnover rates, and dearth of young people interested in trucking careers. Some are even calling it a “demographic cliff.” So America is doing what it’s always done: looking to those who serve to keep on serving.
The Department of Transportation has launched its Freedom Haulers website in an effort to entice service members to consider a trucking career when they leave the military.
The site is heavily politicized, which could be a turn-off for a lot of military members looking to invest their time, energy, and benefits into a their first post military career. But the trucking industry is excited about it:
“For generations, veterans have played a vital role in keeping America moving, American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear said in a statement. “The skills developed in military service—leadership, discipline, adaptability, teamwork, and a mission-focused mindset—are the same qualities that define successful trucking professionals.”
The bottom line is that trucking is good work, no matter who’s in the Oval Office, and it does pay well. There’s a lot of information on the Freedom Haulers website, and not all of it is accurate, so let’s pick it apart really quick.
The Truth About Trucking Careers
This website would have you believe that a full 25% of America’s 16 to 18 or so million veterans are truckers. This is not true. The truth is really closer to 10%—which is still a selling point. There must be something about the open road that speaks to veterans to account for such a large proportion.
Freedom Haulers also says that the average annual earnings for a trucker is $70,000, which is also not true. The median pay for a person new to a trucking career is $57,440, which is also still a selling point. One-term enlistees leaving the military generally make between $30,000 to $50,000 in their first year or so as a civilian. Experienced truckers will make $70,000 within three years and up to $110,000 within six.
Finally, yes: the VA does pay for CDL training programs through both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
A Fast Lane for Trucking
The Department of Transportation is implementing a number of policies and programs to get veteran butts in drivers’ seats. First and foremost, it’s expanding Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Military Skills Test waivers. Veterans now have a two-year window after leaving the military to skip the CDL road test, previously just one year.
Military veterans can also get the knowledge test waived through FMCSA’s Even Exchange Program, depending on their military occupation and which state they’re in. Nine states just signed on to join the Even Exchange Program, while 21 others already waive the CDL knowledge test for service members in these career fields:
U.S. Army:
• 88M – Motor Transport Operator
• 92F – Fueler
• 14T – Patriot Launching Station Operator
U.S. Marine Corps:
• 3531 – Motor Vehicle Operator
U.S. Navy:
• EO – Equipment Operator
U.S. Air Force:
• 2TI – Vehicle Operator
• 2FO – Fueler
• 3E2 – Pavement and Construction Equipment Operator
The Department is also leaning on industry partners to commit to hiring more veterans and veteran spouses in the coming years, while opening more and more apprenticeship programs. Some companies are even participating in the DoD SkillBridge program, which would allow service members to train for a trucking career in the last 180 days of their service.
Are You Ready to Serve America Again?
For any veteran or service member thinking of a future trucking career, you can watch the video above to get amped up, but keep in mind that the federal government cannot guarantee you things like medical benefits or a sign-on bonus. That’s something you need to get through your employer.
But the training is free and trucking is a necessary career with a foreseeable future.
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