How to Use Your GI Bill For and After CDL Training
Many veterans leave the military with two things trucking companies value: discipline and unused education benefits. Most people think of the GI Bill as a college benefit, but it can also help pay for CDL training. With the right carrier, it can keep paying after the veteran starts driving.
This guide covers both stages. It explains how the GI Bill works for CDL school, how carrier apprenticeship programs work after graduation, and how veterans can plan their benefits to get the most from each.
Why Trucking Companies Want Veterans
Veterans bring habits that match what the job demands. People with a military background often have experience operating heavy equipment, handling multiple tasks at once, and focusing on safety. Those habits carry over directly to life behind the wheel.
Carriers have taken notice. Schneider reports that 24% of its team has military experience. Werner has hired more than 25,000 military veterans and veteran spouses since its apprenticeship program began. Both companies run recruiting programs built for veterans, and both hire graduates of Southwest Truck Driver Training.
For veterans weighing their next move, trucking is a career where military experience counts.
Part One: Using the GI Bill to Pay for CDL Training
Federal officials have confirmed that eligible veterans can use GI Bill benefits to cover CDL training costs. The school must be approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Southwest Truck Driver Training is approved to accept GI Bill benefits at both its Phoenix campus and its Tucson campus.
At SWTDT, eligible veterans can apply their benefits to the Class A CDL program. The program includes 160 hours of classroom and hands-on training and meets federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements. Students can choose day, evening, or weekend schedules. Class A is just one of the CDL training programs offered at SWTDT.
The basic steps look like this:
- Check eligibility. Veterans can confirm which GI Bill they have and how many months of benefits remain.
- Gather documents. Carriers and schools commonly ask for a copy of the DD Form 214 and a Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.
- Talk with admissions. The admissions team can explain how benefits apply to the program and help with the paperwork.
Part Two: Using the GI Bill After Training
Many veterans don’t realize the GI Bill can keep working after CDL school. Some carriers run apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and the VA. After graduating from truck driving school and joining the carrier, a veteran enrolls in the apprenticeship and receives monthly payments directly from the VA, on top of their regular pay. The amount depends on the veteran’s eligibility tier.
Payment rates are set in six-month blocks, and they usually step down as the driver gains experience. Werner describes these as tax-free education benefits paid in addition to Werner pay.
Werner Enterprises
In 2006, Werner partnered with the Department of Labor and the VA to start the industry’s first professional truck driver apprenticeship program. The program is 4,000 hours long, completed over two years, and open to Werner drivers with 12 months of experience or less.
Schneider
Image source: schneiderjobs.com/truck-driving-jobs/benefits/military
Schneider’s Military Apprenticeship Program lets eligible veterans earn up to an additional $1,647 per month during their first year with the company. To qualify, a veteran must still have GI Bill or Post-9/11 benefits available.
Program details and payment amounts can change. Veterans should confirm current terms with each carrier before deciding.
SWTDT’s career services team works with recruiters from carriers like these.
Planning Benefits for Both Stages
Every month of GI Bill benefits a veteran uses counts against their total, so planning matters. A CDL program is short compared to a college degree. It often uses only a small share of a veteran’s benefits, which can leave months open for an apprenticeship later.
Before enrolling, veterans should find out how many months of benefits they have left. Then they can ask the VA and the carrier how training and an apprenticeship would affect that total. A few questions up front can make a real difference in earnings over the first two years of a driving career.
Training at Southwest with Veterans in Mind
Many SWTDT instructors are military veterans. For students coming out of the service, that shared background can make the move to civilian work feel familiar. The instructors understand structure, high standards, and adapting to a new mission.
Shelly, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, compared schools before she enrolled. “I looked at three different driving schools before walking into Southwest. I knew immediately it was the place for me. Solid training and the respect you deserve.”
Every SWTDT graduate also has access to lifetime job placement assistance. That support is available at graduation and at any point later in a graduate’s career.
Ready to Learn More?
Veterans who want to use their GI Bill for CDL training can connect with our team to get started. The admissions team at either campus can answer questions about benefits, schedules, and life after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do veterans need a CDL before starting a carrier apprenticeship?
Yes. Carrier apprenticeships begin after the veteran earns a CDL and is hired as a driver.
How can a veteran check how much GI Bill entitlement is left?
Veterans can call the VA at 888-442-4551 to find out their exact benefit amount or eligibility. Benefit details are also available through a VA.gov account.
Is there a time limit to use the GI Bill?
It depends on the benefit and discharge date. Veterans whose service ended on or after January 1, 2013 have no expiration date on Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, while others should confirm their deadline with the VA.
Can a spouse or child use transferred GI Bill benefits for CDL training?
Yes, if the service member transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to them while still serving. SWTDT’s admissions team can confirm how transferred benefits apply.
Do Southwest graduates have to work for Werner or Schneider?
No. Southwest Truck Driver Training is an independent school, so graduates choose where they want to work.
