Army Vet looking to get into trucking..

1) Best to get your CDL on your own no school.

Next best would be to use the GI bill.

The worst choice here is using company sponsors training. It is poor quality high cost and the training company uses it as a incentive for your continued servitude.

2) Swift is not the worst company to work for but it is among the worst. They have over 100% annual turnover there and that is even when they have drivers with thousands in student loans owed to Swift.

I don't work a Pepsi or Bud but I doubt they have that type of turnover. Any job that pays by the hour or is in a union industry is better then the CPM piece work at Swift where the driver is just a number and steering wheel holder.

 

I'd reenlist and pick a more lucrative MOS.
Air traffic controllers can make $122,000 a year.
Army intelligence can lead to very lucrative civilian opportunities.
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE -The "Intel" Community are responsible for collecting, sharing vital information to combat soldiers concerning targeting, enemy man-power, and capabilities. Pictures, electronic, communications, human, and counterintelligence are methods used to collect information to save soldier's lives on the battle field.
35F INTELLIGENCE ANALYST
35G GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE IMAGERY ANALYST
35L COUNTER INTELLIGENCE AGENT
35M HUMAN INTELLIGENCE COLLECTOR
35N SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE ANALYST
35P CRYPTOLOGIC LINGUIST
35Q CRYPTOLOGIC NETWORK WARFARE SPECIALIST
35S SIGNALS COLLECTOR/ANALYST
35T MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS MAINTAINER/INTEGRATOR
35V SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (SIGINT) SENIOR SERGEANT/SIGINT CHIEF (add 1404 / 1210 - 05)
35X INTELLIGENCE SENIOR SERGEANT/CHIEF INTELLIGENCE SERGEANT
35Y CHIEF COUNTER INTELLIGENCE/HUMAN INTELLIGENCE SERGEANT
35Z SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (SIGINT) SENIOR SERGEANT/SIGINT CHIEF (del 1410 / 1210 - 05)
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
36B FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN
PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS -"Psy Ops" are used to influence the local population to not join insurgencies and be a source of information to assist Army soldiers on the ground. Getting into the head of the enemy combatants and helping them to leave the battlefield would be a vital role of the Psychological Operations Specialists.
37F PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

 

CDL is just a test. Part written, part driving. Being in the army, I do believe you can get one of those test waved.

As far as I know only one state (WA) requires schooling for the CDL. However, there are even exceptions to that.

If you feel better going to school that is fine. Shop around and find the best avenue for that. A community college is often a better place to start.

Even if you do end up a Swift or one of the other Megas, some of them will reimburse you for schooling out side their program after so long of employment. However, I would not count on that and the schooling these companies provide is nothing but a money maker for them. Us the GI bill if you must.

 

If you're young enough to reenlist you have some valuable opportunities available.

 

Maybe 2% of truck drivers have the earning potential of an air traffic controller. If I had other options open I'd be Looking In other places than driving a truck.

 

Did you drive a semi? As a 12N, you should have been trained to run a heavy hauler.

When did you separate?

If you are eligible for the military test waiver, DO IT.

You will need a letter from your commander stating that you meet the requirements (you were operating the equivalent of a Class A rig, etc etc).

Military Skills Test Waiver Program