Training For Veterans
Topic 11684 | Page 1
Does anyone have anything to say on this? What's out there for us?
Most (if not all) of the carriers offering company sponsored training have special incentives and programs for veterans. Many of the drivers regularly contributing the TT forum are veterans and can probably offer you more specific guidance.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
If you can use your post 911 GI Bill, you can pick your school and don't have to do a company school. I'll be using my GI Bill with roadmasters. It's as good as paying cash so they can't pressure you into a pre-hire. But, they are owned by Werner now so there may be some Werner hype to filter out. Getting a CDL and then having freedom of company choice is important to me (but might only have offers from mega carriers anyway. Who knows?)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Since I did my training many years after I had retired from the military, I could not use any programs for my training.
But I do know that you can use your GI Bill to pay for training. I also have heard that if you get training from one of the companies that offer training you can still use your GI Bill during the time you are out doing your carrier specific training. So makes it a lot easier on you in the monies department while you are still learning how all this works.
I would be contacting the VA to see what you are entitled to receive.
Ernie
I was in the military (Army) from 1987-1995. One thing I did not know is that my GI Bill actually EXPIRED! I did not know that could happen. So, when I went to trucking school, I was really PEEVED when I found out I would have to put up the entire 5 grand.
I was in the military (Army) from 1987-1995. One thing I did not know is that my GI Bill actually EXPIRED! I did not know that could happen. So, when I went to trucking school, I was really PEEVED when I found out I would have to put up the entire 5 grand.
Bill,
It was drilled into your head (or at least it should have been) that your GI Bill benefits were use or lose within the first 10 years of getting out, or in my case retired. So I have no sympathy for anyone that was in and claims they did not know. I was contacted many times over the years about using my GI Bill and reminded many times about use or lose in the first 10 years. No excuse for not knowing. This just confirms what I have always suspected about Army folks, they don't pay attention (just kidding), (ok, now I will get down off my soap box).
Ernie
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I was in the military (Army) from 1987-1995. One thing I did not know is that my GI Bill actually EXPIRED! I did not know that could happen. So, when I went to trucking school, I was really PEEVED when I found out I would have to put up the entire 5 grand.
Bill,
It was drilled into your head (or at least it should have been) that your GI Bill benefits were use or lose within the first 10 years of getting out, or in my case retired. So I have no sympathy for anyone that was in and claims they did not know. I was contacted many times over the years about using my GI Bill and reminded many times about use or lose in the first 10 years. No excuse for not knowing. This just confirms what I have always suspected about Army folks, they don't pay attention (just kidding), (ok, now I will get down off my soap box).
Ernie
Your experience may differ from others. Some people may have had poor leadership or a command lacking in communication. A scenario not uncommon in the military.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Ummm, yeah, I never heard that even one time.
*blows up soapbox from my B12 Combat engineer training*
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Does anyone have anything to say on this? What's out there for us?