Companies That Hire Veterans
Topic 16846 | Page 1
Hey, Andy, welcome to Trucking Truth!
First, experience: early in our careers we've all bumped into the "Experience Doesn't Grow On Trees" problem. That goes for CDL driving, too. However going through an approved 160 hour driving school will get you to the point that truck companies will be interested in you.
Most companies do give Vets some extra benefits, from school scholarships to advanced seniority. Those with military logistics experience still have a few things to do to get their CDL.
Local jobs, or "home daily" assignments, are hard to come by. Most new drivers really need to get the OTR seasoning before they can look into local work. Small companies that have local work really can't afford to teach driving to rookies like the big national and regional companies can. You might get lucky, but be prepared to be gone weeks at a time getting that OTR polish.
Are you already signed on with a school? We have lots of resources here:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
The High Road program is your path to passing the CDL test.
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.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Hi everybody, When I was looking into school to get my CDL one of the ladies at a school told me that companies won't usually hire people with no experience for local positions, but she did say that there are some companies that will give a new driver a local position if he/she is a veteran. Do any of you guys no any companies that do that? I'm in Chicago
Thank you, Andy Sepulveda
Depending on the status of the veteran (unemployed, disabled, etc) companies can gain tax credits or get reimbursed for part of the vet's salary for hiring a vet. So, yes, in many cases it is advantageous for the employer to hire a vet over someone who has not served.
FedEx Freight will hire and train vets for local jobs. If you don't yet have a CDL you can apply to be a Driver Apprentice. FedEx will hire you and train you to become a driver. Be aware that it may take a year to get a local position but you'll get valuable experience doing road runs and local coverage some days while you're waiting. Plus you'll keep getting your salary working the dock moving freight. But no matter what, road runs, local or working the dock gets you home everyday :)
And these guys will tell you local driving can be tough. Backing is a trial by fire that you'll experience multiple times a day working local. That said, myself and six other guys who started local at the beginning of this year as new drivers are all still doing it and no one has any accidents yet (knock, knock :)
http://fedexfreight.jobs/driver-apprentice/jobs-in/?location=Illinois
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.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
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Hi everybody, When I was looking into school to get my CDL one of the ladies at a school told me that companies won't usually hire people with no experience for local positions, but she did say that there are some companies that will give a new driver a local position if he/she is a veteran. Do any of you guys no any companies that do that? I'm in Chicago
Thank you, Andy Sepulveda
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices