Schnieder Veterans apprenticeship program

Income is unpredicatble . What do you consider "enough" ? To be classified as a trainee you will be paid as a trainee . Network with veterans and try to find employment other than with a large OTR carrier .

 

Search this site . https://www.usajobs.gov/

 

I would verify where that BAH comes from, I'm pretty sure that the VA actually deducts 12 months from your benefits through that program. As I'm sure you know, you are given 36 months worth of benefits through the GI Bill, this works out 4 years of college. By going through the program you're look at losing 1/3 of that for nothing but a housing allowance. That housing allowance will come in handy if/when you go to school. In my area it's nearly $1100/month. That's enough for an apartment and all of the utilities.

Like I said though, double check what the Schneider program deducts from your benefits. Schneider offered it to me last year and I declined so I wouldn't use anything up.

With that said, how much you make and how much you need is going to be two different things. While I worked at Schneider my in-laws allowed my wife and I to live with them. My wife got a job and I just drove over the road. I made $600-$750/week at $.29/mile with them. I kept in touch with 3 or 4 other guys that went through orientation however, and they were bringing in $400-$600/week. I *think* the difference was that I was constantly on the phone bugging them for another load, while they waited all day for them to finally send one. I was a big pain to them, but I got the loads I needed so I could make a couple dollars. Like RickG said though, income will be unpredictable, sometimes you'll run your 2500-3000 miles, sometimes you'll be looking at 1750...

So keeping that in mind, you'll have to make a budget and determine if that's enough to live on. I keep an electric cooler with me, allowing me to eat on the cheap. My father however, eats out at least once a day.. If you're willing to, you can make living week to week very cheap on yourself, and send most of the money home for the wife/kids.

Once you complete that budget, put one together for *if* you decide to go to school later. Will it be easier to make it work over the next year without BAH, so you can have some BAH later during school? Or would it be easier to get some money up front right now?

Your GI-Bill (Post 9/11 which you can upgrade to if you don't already have it..) will generally be available to you for 15 years past your release from active duty. I advise you find a way to save those benefits. The potential savings it'll provide for school is well worth it in my opinion.

As a final thought - depending on how much money you can save up and what not... By the time I go back to school I'll have 3-4 years left between my Bachelors and my Masters. I've already got nearly 20k saved up and am putting away about $500-$600/week. At this rate I'll have nearly $70k saved up. That's almost $1500/month that I can take out of savings while I go to school. Add that to the BAH I'll receive and I'll have $2500+/month income that's already been taxed (Taxed while going into savings.. BAH doesn't get taxed).

If you have the discipline to do that, you'll be setting yourself up for success. Trucking isn't my favorite thing in the world, but it pays enough money to get where I want to be. And that's in college studying full time without worrying about where my money is going to come from. Just something to think about..

 

*With all that said, I know this is a trucking forum, but I want to make sure he makes the right choice. So guys, please don't get upset at me for making sure he has an exit out of here.

 

A CDL would be a plus on many government jobs like the Forestry Service . There are also many trainee positions open for good careers .

 

I am retiring from the navy and doing the same. There are a few companies that have the apprenticeship program. Schneider, Werner, TMC, Roehl, Con way, and Covenant. These are the ones I have found. with Schneider Paying the best for Newbies.

 

Do some research here . Almost all training programs come with a year employment obligation . A high percentage of trainees fail to fulfill the obligation and get billed thousands for the training and get no certification for the training .
Retired from the Navy ? Do some research on being on the crew of river tugs . The pay and benefits are much better and there is a much better opportunity for advancement .
Truck fleets are not increasing in size . Marine traffic is increasing .
Example of job opening . https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/334210800