Military vet looking to start trucking

schnieder has a military program you should look into. Also try a local VA rep for assistance with job placement and also eligibility to post 9/11 GI Bills to use for schooling to increase your chances of landing a better gig.. just some ideas

 

I'll tell ya right now it will be hard finding a good company to work for out of north florida im from jacksonville and the job market sucks right now. Texas and north dakota seems to be where the money is right now hauling tankers for the oilfields. I have a friend that was a driver in the army and none of his military experience counted for some reason.

 

All Automatics in the Army except if your old school.... older M818's and old dueces were 5 spds.. or the weird air assist 16spds

 

ok im in the same boat as you. your going to have to go to a truck driving school before any company will even look at you.(which i think is bull) I know this cause this is what had to deal with. If you can sweet talk your way in to a campany you have to show that u drove the M915 for more than 3 years. your still going to need to go to school to get the stick time for the company to even look at you. I know there is alot of good deals out there for us VETs but companys dont see it our way. dont get you hopes down your still able to get in to a company with out going to school. if you send me an Email on here ill let you know how I did it.

 

Fl. is never a good choice for driving. Maybe a private carrier like Publix. (They have a MAJOR distribution Center about halfway between Jack. and I-75.) would be the way to go after a year or so with some starter outfit.

 

If you have one year of driving experience, see if you qualify to O/O at Landstar or Schneider or any of the other countless O/O operations unless you just want to be a company driver.

 

Would love to get on driving for publix. I have family that retired from there. Worked at the warehouse your talking about when i was 18 they only hire from within for drivers.

 

I'm currently AD as well, and i am also looking to get into the industry.
This is what i have found so far:
Find a Truck Driving School....whether a Driving Institute or a Community College. Make sure its at least 120hrs. PTDI certified makes it even better. Maybe even more employable, better trained, or just that you paid more to get the same amount of training.....however you want to look at it.
Then after obtaining schooling, and your CDL, find a company who hires students.

Determine if you want, Van/Reefer, Flatbed, Tanker....pick your flavor.

Oh, and there is a May trucking terminal out of Pensacola i believe?.....Van only?....i think, didnt do to much research on them.

I myself, am leaning towards flatbed.
I have a couple of companies line up, just comparing them side by side...at least on the web, for now, until i get out, then ill go physically visit. Im due to separate March 31, 2012. Im ready to get this trucking show on the road. Love it or hate it, im ready to give it a shot ( for at least a year, and then reevaluate)

Best of luck to ya!

***If any of this info is wrong/incorrect/misleading/what-have-ya......please message me the correct info, so i myself am better informed!***