Active/Retiring Military - When Should I Get CDL

I am active duty military, currently 21 years and will be retiring in three years. I would like to start my second career in the truck driving industry but have a question regarding the best timeframe to get my CDL. I have a schedule that will allow me to complete CDL training with the local community college in the Fall of 2019, however I will not be retiring until Summer of 2022. Would it be a bad idea to get my CDL and not "use it" for a couple years? My last two years prior to retirement will be busy and I am afraid that if I wait until the end I would be better served trying to find a company sponsored CDL school to be able to get my license prior to the end of my terminal leave period, which I have no issue with, but I would prefer to just pay upfront and get the training done with if possible. Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide! Thanks!

 

Don’t go to a school until you are almost ready to take a job unless you can pull a few loads locally here and there. It will be harder to find something if your recent experience is a few years ago.

 

That's kind of what I figured. I am going to try and see what the local availability of some part time weekend local work would be since my current Navy job is mainly Monday through Friday, but if that proves fruitless I will have to try and figure out a way to take the courses towards the end of my obligation. I am trying to get all the information I can gather over the next couple years to best set myself up for when I retire. After what will be almost 25 years in the Navy the prospect of working a new job is a bit frightening, especially since I am looking at an industry that doesn't align with what I have been doing for the Navy. Thank you very much for your input GypsyWanderlust, I really appreciate it.

 

I too am a retiree and now driving. Congrats on your upcoming retirement. I really don't think it will matter when you get your CDL. You will still have to get some experience before you can use it. The biggest advice I can give you, is to not waist your Post 911 GI bill on a driving school and then going under an apprenticeship program with a mega carrier. I believe the GI bill is too valuable for that. That's just my opinion. Good Luck

 

Thank you for your Service fellow Vet !

Better get your GI Bill entitlements to pay for it whenever you do decide to go to school. That is IF you are eligible. I do agree with the post above. You'll most likely have to do some refresher training if don't get experience soon after you get your CDL.

I Retired from the USAF back in 2003. I graduated CDL School 2 weeks ago. I found out the HARD way that the GI Bill is ONLY good for 15 years AFTER you retire.

I started CDL School 15 years and 10 months after I retired so I was F'd. I had no idea our GI Bill entitlement had an expiration date.

Yet another example of the way our Gubment fails us Vets.

 

Where you stationed? I sent a few of my soldiers through troops to transport at Benning. Tdy for 8 weeks. They loved it

 

I assume you are talking about getting a Class A CDL and not a Class B.

You're not going to find local PT CDL A work WITHOUT and OTR experience. Not gonna happen. Maybe Class B PT work IF you are lucky. Not as easy as you think. Spend your time reading this forum (and others), watch YouTube videos.... with a grain of salt, and research the snot out of the trucking industry. The learning curve is very, very steep. I've been at it 4-5 months and still don't know a ton. Overwhelming to say the least.

The most difficult part for most of newbs is getting experience and who to get it through. Honestly, most options just suck. Just being real with you.

 

I agree with your advice on the GI bill, I fall under the Post 9/11 provisions and it is worth much more assigned to my children than me, especially if I am already doing to be drawing a retirement check. I fully expect and would absolutely welcome refresher training if I gap getting the CDL and getting a job. Thanks for your advice!

 

Yea, that expiration isn't something they explicitly tell us when they sign us up for it! I am hoping to get my kids to use it to maximize the benefits! Thanks for your insight!

 

I am in the Norfolk, VA area. I am not eligible for the troops to transport because my current job has nothing to do with heavy equipment operation unfortunately. I am looking to do an entire career change when I am done with the Navy.