Transitioning From The Marine Corps Thinking About Getting Into Trucking

If you really think this is what you want go to a school and get a job before you even think of buying a truck.

 

Gotta concur. Much more to owning a truck than simply driving it.

 

Apesride, from a Squid to a Marine, welcome aboard. Im a 4 year Gunnersmate and I think I shouldve stayed in. Im currently a student in CDL school, and have several prehires with flatbed companies. My family are either truckers, law enforcement, or military, being what it is, ive done 2 of these, its time to do the last one. I am using my GI Bill for my school, and 2 of the companies I am prehired with have the VA OJT program. Speaking with several people who are O/O it is best to bide your time as a company driver until you know driving is for you and that your family is ok with your absence. My wife says shes going to treat it as though im deployed on work ups, and my kids are excited that they will get to go with dad some times like their friends do with their grandmother. My plan is to go at it for at a minimum of 2 years before I make a decision on O/O. I know I can go for the VA small business program if I want to, but I would rather make sure Im here for the long haul.

 

Gunner I been saying that I should have re enlisted for the last 17 years.

 

Check out the Apprenticeship program. Pays Post 9/11 and a wage for the first year. I've done a lot of research and this looks like the best deal. Schneider was recommended to me by a coworker that drove for them in the past. Say away from some of the companies that offer to train you if you work for them a year. Look at the rates of what companies are paying, time on the road versus time at home and average number of miles drivers are receiving each week. Look at what others are saying about the company they work for. Good luck Marine! I'm a retired E-8 (Army Engineer) with three boys in the Marines, a daughter in the Army and a son that is a Airborne Infantry Ranger. I start the training in Late June and can share my experiences with you'd like.

 

Gunner75...which companies do you know have the VA OJT Program? I know Schneider does but I'd like to weigh my options.

 

TMC has a 2 year program, flat bed only, has dedicated boat fleet, and dedicated heavy haul, both of which are hired for from inside, nice trucks with the fleet getting changed out currently to newer trucks, 30% military vets, run a tight ship like a military unit, offers % based pay scale with increases based on performance vs tenure. www.tmctrans.com
NTB has a 1 year program, claim is decent miles, good home time, lots of dedicated runs, they have the Meijer Dept store account, hires newbies but must be an accepted school, ugly trucks, CSA scores are decent. Refer and dry van https://www.ntbtrk.com/
Melton Truck Lines has a 1 year program, flat bed only, solid medical coverage, decent starting pay, pay increases to higher pay brackets in a year, decent trucks, fleet is getting upgraded right now, home time is 2 weeks out but ive been told they like to keep you out longer. http://www.meltontruck.com/
Boyd Bro's has a program but I dont know the details, they start out at .38cpm but raises are low and slow,

those are the ones I am aware of, but there are lots of others out there.

 

Schneider has a VA approved program, we had a couple of folks going through it when I started orientation.