ARE YOU A VETERAN OR SERVICE MEMBER? WE CAN HELP!
Veterans or service members interested in obtaining your CDL license? Job-seeker? Employer? We can assist you … let our SJRISE Project Navigator help you today.
What is SJRISE? SJRISE is a program offered to the residents of both Apache and Navajo Counties to prepare residents with the skills required to gain employment in industries that will drive the local economy over the next several decades.
SJRISE’s vision is to create an environment for virtual and hands-on training which will offer educational programs for job-seekers to gain employment and/or upskill their knowledge and skills for higher-paying jobs. There is a growing demand for veterans in the truck driving industry.
Out of all goods in the United States, 71% of them are delivered by truck, a whopping majority. What’s more is that number is set to increase in years to come. The already understaffed market is set to take on 1.1 million drivers in the next decade. That accounts for 110,000 licensed CDL drivers per year.
In a market that’s already heavily understaffed, the industry is vigorously recruiting new drivers – including military veterans – by the day.
Currently, there are just over 18 million veterans in the U.S. – one in four of them are truck drivers. There’s no denying that that’s an impressive amount, especially considering there are only about 3 million professional truckers in the entire country. However, DMVs around the country issue more than 450,000 CDLs each year. Veterans drive a lot of trucks. And there’s no sign of the community backing out of professional trucking any time soon. In fact, there’s a need for a whole slew of them to join in. Hence, the not-so-subtle call for military vets to join the career path.
For the veteran, a career in trucking can come with many perks. The gig is high-paying and usually comes with benefits, such as paid time off or retirement packages. It’s a steady career that allows for travel. And in most cases, drivers have a set or predictable schedule so they can plan to be with their friends and family X number of days, and on the road the rest of the time.
Usually, truck drivers also have the opportunity for career growth through raises, changing routes, or even the opportunity to buy into your company or start your own transportation company as an owner-operator.
Many veterans come in with their own truck driving experience. Whether they drove Humvees onto trailers, or worked in trucking before their time of service, there are many former military members who can skillfully drive a rig. Service members and veterans who meet certain requirements may qualify for skills test waivers and exchange programs taking advantage of transitioning into the transportation industry. To be eligible for these waivers a veteran must have certification from a military service of relevant training and experience driving heavy vehicles.
All types of reasons are cited by vets for becoming a truck driver – there are those who want to heal on the road. Those who want to travel. Those who want a steady job. And those who want to have a career that’s both important, meaningful and needed.
New driver rates start around $70,000 and go up from there. Certain certifications make drivers more valuable to a company. In your CDL training certain certifications will be discussed. You may also take on additional certifications such as the ability to haul liquids or hazardous materials. These add-ons can greatly increase salaries.
As a veteran – or a soon-to-be veteran – you have options in becoming a licensed CDL holder. If you already hold a CDL (commercial driver’s license), you should be able to easily apply to jobs. Do so yourself or opt for help from us here at SJRISE where we provide workforce development to help you find the right job for you. In addition to CDL certification SJRISE offers 4,000+ trainings including IT, Cyberwarfare, and Medical. If you are looking to obtain your CDL, there are programs available and that’s where we at SJRISE are here to assist you, guiding you through the steps and providing the necessary training you need to obtain your CDL certification. The first step for veterans and service members, job-seekers or employers looking to hire CDL drivers is to contact us here at SJRISE and enroll in/inquire about our CDL certification program.
