Transitioning military/80% disability - Is trucking the right choice?

First, Thanks for your service. Id say discuss it with your doctors. They will know whether your plans can work or not, from a medical standpoint anyway, as each case usually has its differences. Sounds like a good plan (all but the letting your mind wonder-not something you really want to do driving a rig? LOL). If the doctors say no problems, Id say go for it. As for Roehl, Ive never worked for them so I cant comment on what kind of company they are but they have been in the business for awhile so they must do some things right? Good Luck to you whatever you decide to do.

 

Not sure where you are, but with your background I am sure you can land a private contractor gig somewhere. Unless trucking is what you really desire.

Even better if you have a security clearance.. Dont waste your GI bill on an apprenticeship, it is worth so much more than that. If that is the case, give it to your kids if you have any.

 

I would point you toward the Railroads. Those jobs are much easier, better benefits and better pay. The GI bill pays the difference between the apprentice rate and the journeymen rate. There is also a way to purchase tools through them. Railroad Unions are really the only unions left that are worth anything. They stick together. Railroads do not play Social Security they have Railroad Retirement which is a stronger deal.

Being that you were in the Air Force you are smarter then the average veterans so good luck from a fellow zoomie.

 

I recommend that you check out the companies about your disability before you invest a dime. You may be 100% ok to drive but I honestly feel you're going to find all kinds of problems and prejudices. You should go in and talk face to face and do it with more than one person. Just by reading what you have posted raises doubt if you're able to keep any problems from happening while out on the road. By no means do I say that based on any medical findings I'm just comparing your situation like that with the established rules about heart problems. It might be a good idea that you find a company you like and explain to them the whole situation and ask if you can work at any job to eventually end up as an OTR driver. You do have a very good hiring advantage with your military experience and you'll need to use it. Good luck and I hope you do not run into closed mind individuals too much.

 

1st a huge thanks for your service and sacrifice. I agree totally with GasHauler. Go and have DOT physical performed. May be a little pricey , but money well spent before you get into a program , only to find out that you're not medically capable. Good Luck! And again thanks from another vet.

 

I not only call BS, but resent that remark chair force dude. Guess you haven't spent much time working with other services? I've met some pretty dumb box kickers in the USAF, but know some extremely intelligent Marines I worked with as an airframe mechanic. Guys with Masters degrees, that are MARINES because we love being THE FEW, THE PROUD. We know that not everyone had the intestinal fortitude to be a MARINE, so they made the other services so those lacking in some areas had a club they too could join so they wouldn't feel left out. I do give props to Army dogs though, they are pretty bad ###.

That all being said, I retired and fell right into an O/O role. Actually been running a parking lot for almost 2 years before I retired on the weekends, and now I love not having a boss, except for the wife LOL. I enjoy driving, and keeping all the money, but that also comes with the headache. I say if that's your passion, and you don't mind making probably less than you did in the USAF as a company driver (unless you left as an E-4 or lower) and get medically cleared, go for it. There's a big beautiful country out there that not too many people ever get a chance to see the way we do. Best of luck to ya.

 

What airframe did you work on? I was a power plant mech on a c130.

 

H-1's- UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Cobras. Aside from recruiting on Long Island, and UDP, Iraq and Afghanistan, all my time was at Pendleton. You were outta Miramar with 152 right?

And I may have lashed out a bit on my last remark, but after 20 years in, it can be frustrating to hear that us military folk aren't smart as others out there. And those who have served know that not to be true at all. Every barrel has a bad apple, but our barrels (US military as a whole) tend to have a lot sharper folk in them!

 

Darryl, thanks for your service. I left the Army with a 20% disability rating with monthly compensation. I did 8 yrs. OTR prior to my military service and now on my23rd year driving local since leaving the military. If you can get medically cleared, i say go for it. I would consider
Local/regional if i was in your shoes. As Century Class stated, dont waste your G.I. bill on trucking.