Veterans have “the know-how to move things smartly and safely,” making them ideal candidates to put in the driver’s seat as civilians in the trucking industry.

U.S. Army Spc. C. Terrell Turner, 214th Mobile Pubic Affairs

Trucking is a $600 billion dollar industry that moves more than 70 percent of America’s goods and employs nine million people. This industry is expected to grow by more than 19,000 jobs each year through 2022. With so many job opportunities and candidates looking to sit in those drivers’ seats, how will you know who are among the best, most qualified? 

Regardless of primary duties while they were in uniform, most soldiers have some kind of experience in logistics. Those who did drive heavy trucks as part of their duties automatically qualify for a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).  

Veterans whose duties were not transportation-based, but who had experience driving Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks or larger vehicles, automatically qualify for the Department of Transportation’s Military Skills Wavier. This program credits military experience as meeting the driving requirement for a Class B CDL, leaving the only requirement as passing the 54-question Class B written test taken at a local Department of Motor Vehicles.  

Veterans bring other desirable skills to employers as well: they are highly trainable and task-oriented with the ability to adapt quickly and to function under pressure. They are dependable leaders and they do not shy away from a challenge.

The U.S. Army Soldier for Life program (SFL) is the Army’s connection arm between soldiers, veterans and families and the education, employment and health resources that help them serve strong in and out of uniform. SFL works with both industry leaders and the Army to ensure that soldiers transition out as well trained and highly skilled professionals, educates on the value of veterans, and inculcates the Soldier for Life mindset that service members continue to stand by after transitioning to civilian status. 

As soldiers they were America’s trusted professionals. As soldiers for life, they represent the prestige of the Army profession and apply all those invaluable, intangible skills the military teaches to their jobs, families and communities as civilians. Hiring veterans isn’t just the right thing to do—it makes good business sense for the trucking industry.

To learn more about the U.S. Army Soldier for Life program, visit. www.SoldierForLife.army.mil