One of the skills that the military has probably taught you is how to safely drive a CMV. However, your time in the service does not last forever.
If you want to take advantage of utilizing this skill after your discharge, then getting a Commercial Driver’s License may be the right path for you.
Wondering whether you can use your hard earned GI Bill benefits in getting a CDL?
The answer is YES. The GI Bill can be used to cover the costs of getting a Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), attending truck driving school, taking the CDL test, and even doing an apprenticeship at a VA approved trucking company. How much you can get depends on the GI Bill program you are entitled to receive benefits from, as well as other factors such as your eligibility percentage, training time, and rate of pursuit.
Your benefits will pay for tuition costs and license tests, as well as provide you with a stipend during apprenticeship.
Furthermore, you can also be entitled to receive a Monthly Housing Allowance, which is rated based on the physical location of your school or training facility, as well as up to $83 per month for books and supplies.
If you want to know what you can use a CDL for, and how much you can get from the GI Bill, or if you have other questions related to getting a CDL, keep reading!
What is a CDL?
A CDL or Commercial Driver’s License is a special driver’s license that is required to legally operate Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) or large vehicles that may carry heavy or hazardous materials in a commercial or industrial setting.
Such vehicles require advanced operating knowledge and special skills, and therefore require prior special training and licensing. These include trucks, tractor-trailers, engineering and construction equipment, and large buses.
What Are The 3 Types of CDL?
A CDL is actually classified under 3 categories, namely:
- Class A – Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR/GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/Gross Vehicle Weight) of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR/GVW of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Class B – Any single vehicle with a GVWR/GVW of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR/GVW.
- Class C – Any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or Class B, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is required to be placarded for hazardous materials
Sourced from Wikipedia
Who needs a CDL?
Primarily, a CDL is required for drivers and operators of large and heavy vehicles that are used in commercial and industrial settings. This can mean anywhere from being a bus driver, to a trailer truck driver, to a machinery operator.
However, aside from the ones we already mentioned, each state has different laws on who needs a CDL in order to legally operate.
Depending on where you want to work, you might need to get a CDL in order to be allowed to drive a limousine, a van, or a school bus. Sometimes, such as in the state of California, you need a CDL regardless of what vehicle you are driving as long as you are a driver by profession.
As you can see, there are many different job opportunities for you when you have a CDL.
These can be very lucrative careers paying upwards of $45,000 to $75,000 with excellent benefits.
If you think this is something right up your alley, here is how you can take advantage of your GI Bill benefits in getting a CDL:
How Can the GI Bill Help Me Get a CDL?
The GI Bill will help pay for getting a Class A CDL by offsetting tuition costs, license tests, and even provide apprenticeship, housing, and books stipends.
Here is a breakdown of what you can get from your GI Bill benefits, as well as the forms you need to fill out in order to apply for these benefits:
These figures are based on the current VA Rate Tables (2019).
The current national average rate of the Monthly Housing Allowance is at $1,789. The actual rates you can receive depends on the actual location of your school or training facility, as well as your eligibility percentage, and rate of pursuit (which needs to be at least 50%). As for the books and supplies stipend, you can receive up to $83 per month.
As you can see, the GI Bill can definitely help you from the very beginning up until you are ready to work professionally as a CDL carrying driver.
But, what if you want to start working and earning money right away? Can you skip the training and just get a license?
This is the best part yet:
How Can I Get the Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver?
If you have at least two years of experience in safe driving a military CMV during your active duty service, it can be used to waive the skills test portion of the CDL test. Therefore, you can simply breeze through other remaining licensing requirements instead of wasting time for what you already know how to do.
However, you will need to apply for the Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver within one year after being discharged from active duty. If you think about it, this requirement actually makes sense, as rapid technological advancements are constantly upgrading and changing how vehicles and trucks are driven and operated.
One thing you have to take into account is if you were mostly trained to drive automatic CMVs. Most employers still prefer those with the skills and experience in driving standard transmissions, so a bit of training can still be a huge advantage.
Qualifications for a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver
Each state may impose special additional requirements in getting a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver, but the standard requirements are as follows:
- You have at least two years of CMV safe driving,
- You have not held more than one license (except a military DL) in the past 2 years,
- Your base state-issued DL has never been suspended, cancelled, or revoked,
- You have not had convictions relating to any CDL disqualifying offenses
What if I’m Not Qualified for a Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver?
If you do not meet the qualifying requirements set by the FMSCA in getting a Veteran Skills Test Waiver, or failed to apply for it within a year of your discharge from active duty service, then you will have to undergo training at a VA approved school or training facility.
But don’t worry!
Training time can be as short as three weeks, depending on which school you want to attend (and whether you are training full time).
Plus, in any case, the GI Bill is there to help you out in paying for tuition costs. Depending on your eligibility percentage and other factors, you might not have to spend a dime in going to school and getting your CDL- and even earn some money from housing allowance and other stipends!
Getting Started
To get started with your journey to getting a CDL, do a comparison of your ideal schools or training facilities, and how much in GI Bill benefits you can get from attending them, by using the GI Bill Comparison Tool.
Once you are ready to start with your training (and start receiving GI Bill benefits), go to your VA eBenefits Portal account, fill out the appropriate forms (see the links we provided earlier), and hit submit!
And if you are still undecided, you can also check out the 29,000+ opportunities that the GI Bill can help you out with by going to milversity.com/explore.
