Comments By Superduper trucker wannabe

Josh

Are you looking for VA rehab training? If so, look at the VA homepage, and they will give in the in's and out's. I have been on here for the better part of 6 months as I wait for my medical retirement to finish. While I am going to be over the cutoff % to qualify for VA Rehab Training, I wouldn't use it for this since the best avenue is the paid CDL training that Brett mentioned.

Best of luck Chris

Yeah, I am looking into it. I'm using my gi bill for school right now. In fact I just took my permit test yesterday and passed everything I took. My friend has told me about voc rehab as well as the Pel Grant you can get. He told me there is something else you can get because being medically discharged instead of retired after 20 I just can't remember what he said. Hes currently working for TMC using it all and loves it. I wanted to go with TMC but they won't hire me where I live.

Thanks for the replies everyone.. I guess I worded it wrong when I asked. I guess what I meant to ask is who is using the apprenticeship with what company currently?

So maybe it's me, but all my searching on here I haven't been able to find any information about companies and the apprenticeship program that's recent. Seems like everything is 3-4 year old posts. My question is has anyone gone through any of the companies that offer the apprenticeship program within the last year? I'm currently in school and they are pushing Werner and schneider really hard! I've been really looking into jim palmer/wiltrans as well because of the regional and home time. Being prior service I don't trust recruiters and sure as heck not trusting a school who is pushing 2 companies that have crap plastered all over their walls and training trucks.. Guess I'm just looking for info on companies and current experience and recommendations. Thanks in advance.

That's pretty much my plan.. Also being over 70% you can get Pell Grant's and use VOC rehab to add even more of a cushion to the paycheck.. Then when the benefits are up after 2 years and I turn 40 it's time to retire lol!!!

I actually would encourage using your GI Bill and go to a private school. School is completely paid for, plus you get your housing stipend, plus you get your book stipend. Then most companies that hire new drivers have tuition reimbursement. That's right, you will get paid "back" the money Uncle Sam spent. Also a lot of companies that hire new drivers will also have a VA Approved apprenticeship program. Get another year worth of housing allowance to help cover those first year rookie growing pains.

If you have no intention of additional schooling than use your GI Bill to collect some pay checks.

Fair enough. I dont ever see myself going back to school. In 37 now, 100% service connected. I dont want to sign a contract with a company either. Dont mind using my benefits to pay tot school especially with tuition reimbursement most companies offer. And with the apprenticeship program, voc rehab and Pell Grant's you can make decent money. As far as I know I wont use all my benefits if I do the 2 year apprenticeship, then the yellow ribbon program can kick in and pay for school if I ever decide to go back to school after 2 years on the apprenticeship program. At least that's the way my DAV rep explained it all to me. I plan on retiring at 40 anyway. Driving is just a way to add some decent money to the bank account while using the benefits. I have no debt at the money and like I said 100% service connected. If I cant love off that and the money i have saved in the bank and put into my 401k I'm doing something wrong.

Why do you say that?

Josh

Being in the military, I would encourage you to save your gi bill and go thru company sponsored training.

Paid CDL Training Programs

Thanks everyone. I guess I a. Over thinking stuff. I was just worried that smaller companies, or local companies would still be running manuals where as the big fleets would be autos, but after more research it sounds like everything will be auto in a few years.. thanks everyone everyone for the replies.

Hi,

So I've been thinking about getting into the industry to use my GIBill. Anyway the school I want to go to teaches on manual trucks. I actually want to drive a manual truck. The thing I'm finding out is all the mega carriers that hire recent cdl students, majority of them are auto trucks. I just dont know if going to an auto truck will hurt me or not. I'm just worried if I go to one of these companies and only have autos it's going to hurt me in the long run with little or zero manual experience. Am I just over thinking this?