Active/Retiring Military - When Should I Get CDL

I would council taking some time and do research. Will you be retiring near your final duty station? Or maybe headed back to home of record? Regardless check into a tech school and see if you can get in. Are there any tech schools near your duty station that offers this training at nights or on weekends? Take your time you have 3 years to do this. I would also see if there are any FMCSA registered medical examiners on your base. If so you can use your Tricare to pay for the physical. Be warned though, unless you want to change your CDL to intrastate once you get the CDL you must maintain a physical. I am an old Air Force transportation Vet. Drove a desk! Thank you for your service sir!

 

Go get it now, maintain it while you are still in by taking advantage of your "employment" in the military.

Why?

Because the rules will change about the way you get your cdl, so it is better to be grandfathered in and do training after the fact than to go through the process and may not get into it at all.

 

Thanks! I have a local community college that does the training on nights and weekends, I just have to do it this year or wait until I retire. Last two years in will most likely be rotating shift work.

 

I really appreciate you all taking the time to provide me some insight on my options. I am sure I will have many more questions as I plan for my post-Navy career. It's a scary prospect to move on to something far outside my current job field. Thanks again everyone.

 

Yes, I think @Ridgeline gave you good advice. There is no telling what changes come over the next few years. However, I'm serious about that physical. Don't get too deep into this without going to get one. Unless you want to go back to remove intrastate restrictions on the permit you will be REQUIRED to have a physical before you can get a permit.