Military drivers

Get him the California Commercial Driver Handbook that either via this link, or the hardcopy from a local state office (DMV, SOS, whatever). In that will be the information he will need to supply to CA for that program, this section in particular:

Troops to Trucks
The Troops to Trucks program allows DMV to waive the CDL skills test for qualified military service members who are employed, or were within the last year, in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a CMV on public roads and highways. Qualified applicants must submit a completed CDL Certification for Military Waiver of CDL Driving Test (DL 963) form, and a Commanding Officer’s Certification of Driving Experience (DL 964) form, in addition to any other documents required to apply for a CDL.

These forms are available at dmv.ca.gov. Active duty members will need to provide their military identification (ID), while veterans will need to provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214), which shows their discharge was within the last year.​

The highlighted links in the above paragraph are copied from the online manual, and seem to work. If you go to the online manual, linked above, you can download or have him download the PDF's, and follow the instructions accordingly. I can call him a jarhead also... : ) Tell him, Semper Fi for me.

Good luck to you and him...and yes, even if he doesn't go and get a job right away doing this, although I recommend he does it if he likes the work, to get his CDL now with all the endorsements he can and get it done coming out. If he wants to get the Hazmat endorsement, he'll need a TSA check and if he wants to be able to go into ports, he'll need the TWIC card. Both security checks can be paid at the same place, usually, so he can get them both done at the same time, so when he takes the tests, he has them available. They've recently changed some of the training, and if he wants to use what he knows now to be able to not have to complete the road test, get his CDL now and any and all endorsements that he can. If he does decide to drive and doesn't have those endorsements, he will not be able to avoid having to take the test for that equipment if he doesn't get those endorsements with this driving test bypass...when he wants them later, he will be required to test out on driving. Right now, if he passes the written tests for all the endorsements, he won't have to do driving tests later.

Read the manual and the requirements and have him get on it right away.

 

He should be able to do everything while processing out of the military.
They basically spoon feed it to you.

 

Not sure how it works if he stays in.
Most info is about transferring military experience to civilian experience. Basically you get a waiver saying I drove big trucks in the military and didn’t wreck. (Or didn’t report a wreck lol)
But if he can put his CDL on his license he should.

 

In my opinion...
It seems a moot point if he stays in.

In the military he does not need the CDL, nor the hassle of a DOT physical to keep it current.
When he decides to exit the military is the time to use that easy option, but not before.

 

Another point to add is dui with a cdl is 1/2 that of a non cdl driver. He’s 21 & military. Let him enjoy the young age. He can worry about a cdl when he gets out.

 

Another question might be...
Can the military doctors do the DOT physical as needed in the meantime?
It would save him a step, and a visit, and just add one little thing to the military physicals he is already getting.