Hi,
This is my first post and I figure this is as good place to start as any...
I am currently on active duty at Ft Hood, TX and I will be leaving the military around spring/summer of 2009. I'm seriously considering becoming an OTR driver once I do ETS. I will not be able to attend a school to attain my CDL till then, since I will be leaving for Iraq in Dec 2007 and will not redeploy till March 2009 at the latest. After 3 tours in Iraq, I want to do something that I enjoy and where I don't have to deal with IEDs.
Anyway, I was wondering if my military driving record will have any bearing on attaining my CDL. I have years of experience in driving 5-tons, 2 1/2 tons,
LMTVs, FMTVs, LHSs, and PLSs, not to mention hauling milvans and containers. I was also wondering what companies are worth working for.
I'd appreciate any input from anyone that has experience with OTR driving.

I hooked up with an outfit pulling tankers after I got out of the Army. I was a 64C later it became a 88M. Times have changed since I got out though. There are companies that favor military seems like old snidey is one of them. I would use your GI Bill for a school though; that way you don't have to contract with someone. When you ETS what will be your home State? Thanks for serving! We look forward to you joining the trucking ranks back here.

__________________

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

My Home state will be Texas, at least till I get my CDL and gain some experience...hopefully after about a year or two, my husband and I want to move to Montana. At least that's the plan.
I'm not eligible for the GI bill due to being prior service (was in the Army from 1987-1989, then joined again in 2001-present). Paying for school will not be an issue.

I got lucky and the state I got my CDL (MD) did honor my military driving experience enough so I didn't have to take a road test. But it's been so long ago I don't remember exactly what I had to do. One thing I do remember is I had to get a letter signed stating what I drove. I was a Navy Seabee and had a military license for trucks that were the same as OTR. I would suggest that you don't try to use 2 1/2T or 5ton for experience. And try not to use acronyms because most do not know what they are. Describe the vehicle and use dimensions. There's also a draw back that some of the companies will not recognize military experience because it's on base or convoys.

But there are some postive points too. Some companies know that in the military you've put up with alot of b-crap and you're trained to have discipline and they want that. So use that to your advantage but do it to where you don't stand out. I mean think like a fox and use your past experience on the job. Good luck.

Check out Roehl thought I have no OTR expeirence I saw on there web site that they have a pretty good deals for veterans.Everything I have read Here seems to be positive about them for that is worth.Be safe and thanks.

Roehl's Honor Program is really good. You draw your GI Bill and get a salary from them as well. I have talked to several of our guy's in the program and they really like it.

__________________
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood;."
THEODORE ROOSEVELT (Paris Sorbonne,1910)

I used to work in the DOT office at Ryder and they would honor your military experience with the DD214 and your military license.
Thanks for serving our country and I wish you much success!

__________________

If you want to chat about my personal experiences on the road, I am more than willing to phone you. I loved driving, but they money is not there. You can earn a good paycheck as a company driver and some owner operators do okay, but no one is getting rich in the trucking industry but the big guys.

There are some good companies to work for and right on this forum you can get a good idea about how companies take care of their drivers or if they treat them as just another piece of equipment (slave).

Let me know and I will be happy to phone you at your convenience.

US Army (Retired) Trucker/Owner-Operator (Retired)

By the way, thanks for serving.

Cute. I love your monkey! But then I prefer women. (Smile) Yes, trucking can be a nightmare. Great memories and wonderful times discussing the unpleasant and down right nasty. However, nothing was ever really that bad.

You might want to double check that info on your GI bill. I have several friends that used their GI Bill, then deployed, then redeployed and have a brand new GI Bill. If you need more info let me know.