Military Veterans & Resources

Knight Transportation has updated their website showing acceptance of VA. From their website:

Knight Transportation’s Driver Training Program is now Veteran’s Administration Certified for the State of Arizona. Don't know if that means it is only accepted at the Phoenix training or if you need to be from Arizona to use it. If you are thinking about Knight, make sure you ask the recruiter for more information.

Here's the link www.DriveKnight.com/pc/Training/index.html

Steven - It is called the Illinois Veteran's Grant (IVG). I lived in Danville when I joined the Navy and only used it for one college course. I totally forgot about that.

Here is some basic info on it directly from Illinois website: Illinois Veterans' Grant

The Illinois Veterans’ Grant (IVG) Program pays tuition and certain fees at all Illinois state-supported colleges, universities and community colleges for eligible Illinois veterans. An individual must: •Be an honorably discharged veteran; and •Reside in Illinois six months before entering the service; and •Have at least one full year of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. This includes veterans who were assigned to active duty in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country, regardless of length of service; and •Return to Illinois within six months of discharge from the service; and

Applications and additional information are available from the VSO Offices of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, college financial aid offices or the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, 60015, telephone 847-948-8550 or 800-899-ISAC, www.collegezone.com.

Truck Driver Training

On-The-Job Training Programs

Eagle Training Services Inc.

9182 Pyott Road Lake In The Hills, IL 60156

Eagle Training Services

2210 Harrison Avenue Rockford, IL 61104

Illinois Teamsters / Employers Apprenticeship and Training Fund

990 NE Frontage Rd., Suite 4 Joliet, IL 60431-2764

Progressive Driving School, Inc.

5538 W. Belmont Avenue Chicago, IL 60641

Star Truck Driving School-Bensenville

710 Larsen Lane Bensenville, IL 60106

Truck Centers Inc.

2280 Formosa Rd. Troy, IL 62294

Knight Transportation has updated their website showing acceptance of VA. From their website:

Knight Transportation’s Driver Training Program is now Veteran’s Administration Certified for the State of Arizona. Don't know if that means it is only accepted at the Phoenix training or if you need to be from Arizona to use it. If you are thinking about Knight, make sure you ask the recruiter for more information.

Here's the link www.DriveKnight.com/pc/Training/index.html

Sandman - I talked to Krysta (recruiter) there Monday, right now they are only approved for the Phoenix training location but are working on getting approved for the VA OJT program. Matter of fact while talking to her on the phone she sent an instant message to her VA fella to check on the status. She says she is getting more and more calls from VETS about it and hope it gets approved soon.

Oh man, that's a bummer that these programs are run through the individual states instead of the Feds. Sure would be a whole lot easier to gather and organize information from one source instead of each of the 48 Continental States.

Oh man, that's a bummer that these programs are run through the individual states instead of the Feds. Sure would be a whole lot easier to gather and organize information from one source instead of each of the 48 Continental States.

Yea it would, but some states offer better programs than the Federal Government. Here is a good link from Military.com to help out:

http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory.html

Also: Trucking Companies, GI Bill, And Military Veterans

May - Spoke with recruiter today, for those wishing to use their remaining GI Bill/Post 9/11 benefits. If prospective drives uses his/her benefits to earn their CDL , they can still use the company's Tuition Reimbursement (TR) which entails $150/month reimbursed for 48 months up to $7,200 total. Which (even for other companies) should be tax-free since it is a "reimbursement" and not a "salary."

If someone has used a company reimbursement, please chime in.

Here is the USXpress military program. They don't have a VA apprenticeship program but are credited with 2 years driving experience. I am curious if this equates to a significant pay increase compared to other beginning drivers.

Exclusively for veterans, Operation Jump Start credits you with two years of driving experience once you successfully complete our driver training program. That way, you'll start at an advanced rate of pay on every mile you drive—and you can count on us to deliver consistent miles. Why do we give veterans so much more? Because no one's given more than veterans, and no one offers us more in return.

To qualify for Operation Jump Start, you must have been honorably discharged in the last 36 months. If you already have a Class A CDL , you can start right away—just call or Click Here to fill out an application. US Xpress also has one of the best tuition reimbursement programs in the industry, offering you up to $7000.

http://www.usxjobs.com/truck-driver-jobs/military-truck-drivers/military-program/

Used VA to pay for school while still active (19 days). Just retired after 22 years. Starting with PAM soon in OJT GI Bill program. Thanks to all who posted companies that do OJT for Vets. If your a Vet and looking.....check where the company headquarters is.....that decides what bah rate you will receive. Also expect 100% if applicable for 6 mos. and 80% for the rest of the year (if on a year long program). Some companies do it for 1.5 yrs or even 2 years. Do your homework and make sure you are eligible and/or what you are eligible for. Good luck to all...welcome home and thanks your service.

I have talked with a swift recruiter, and they are vet friendly, their normal policy is they train you then have you do payroll deductions for the first year. But as a vet with an honorable discharge they waive that completely as long as you stay working for them for 13 months if you don't then you have to pay some of the total cost back based on how long you worked for them

I know there are companies that are 'vet friendly', and the VA will pay for CDL training at most (not all) schools. I got off of active duty 10/14, and I was already using my MGIB and Pell at another school. In GA, for recently separated active duty who left honorably, you have the option to use the Hope grant. I did and it paid for my CDL program. All I paid was testing fees.

If you are getting ready to separate or are a reservist, there is Army TA available that will cover the cost, fairly painlessly. I know the other services have their own equivalents.

I also know that there is a Veterans rehabilitation program out there, as two guys in my class used it. How it works, I do not know, but I do know there were also getting paid on top of them covering tuition.