CDL Training for Veterans in Arizona
Southwest Truck Driver Training was built on values you already know: loyalty, integrity, and respect. That’s not a coincidence. Gary P. Williams founded the school in 1999 with the belief that people deserve to be both trained and treated right. His sons, including a veteran that served in the US Army Infantry, lead the school today with those same standards.
If you’ve served, you already have the skills that could put you in the driver’s seat. You’re bringing discipline, focus, and the ability to perform under pressure into an industry that needs exactly that. SWTDT is ready to put that foundation to work.
Military Discount: $500 Off Tuition
Southwest Truck Driver Training offers a $500 discount on CDL training tuition for qualifying veterans and active-duty service members.
Ask about eligibility when you contact the admissions team.
Bring a Friend: $500 Off Each
If you and a friend both enroll and pay in full before training begins, you each receive $500 off your tuition.
Note: The Bring a Friend discount and the military discount cannot be combined.
A School That Understands Military Background
Veterans are part of the team at every level, including instructors, office staff, leadership, and ownership. They’ve served, and then they drove trucks. They know both worlds. That shared background changes how instruction feels in the classroom and on the training range.
SWTDT doesn’t treat students like numbers. Veterans who’ve experienced a chain of command built on accountability tend to respond well to instructors who hold high expectations and back them up with real support. That’s how this school runs.
When SWTDT employees are asked what makes the school different, the answer is always the same: the people and the environment. Come see it for yourself.
Using Your Veterans Benefits at SWTDT
Your military service comes with education benefits you’ve already earned. SWTDT is approved to accept the GI Bill® (Chapter 33), which means you may be able to put those benefits directly toward CDL training.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
If you’ve served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may be eligible. Apply for your benefits at va.gov, obtain your Certificate of Eligibility, and bring it to the admissions team at either campus. They’ll take it from there.
How to apply for GI Bill® benefits →
Beyond the GI Bill®, SWTDT offers a $500 military discount on tuition for qualifying veterans and active-duty service members. Many of SWTDT’s carrier partners also offer tuition reimbursement after graduation, which means some graduates recover part or all of their training costs once they’re hired. The admissions team can walk you through every option and help you figure out what applies to your situation.
Trucking Careers After Military Service
SWTDT’s career services team is available to graduates in good standing for life. Whether you’re finishing the program or making a career change years down the road, the team connects you directly with recruiters at local, regional, and national carriers. That support doesn’t expire at graduation.
Most CDL schools stop there. SWTDT doesn’t. If you’re a veteran looking for work in the trucking industry and you didn’t train here, the career services team will still go to work for you. It’s not a program or a special application — just reach out. That’s what it means to stand by the people who served.
What SWTDT Graduates Say
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.
Ready to Get Started?
Southwest Truck Driver Training has been putting Arizona drivers on the road since 1999. The military benefits, experienced instructors, and lifetime career support are all part of what you get when you enroll.
Contact the Phoenix or Tucson campus to talk through programs, schedules, and tuition options. The admissions team is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southwest Truck Driver Training accept the GI Bill®?
Yes. SWTDT is approved to accept the GI Bill®. Apply for your benefits at va.gov and bring your Certificate of Eligibility to the admissions team at either campus to get started.
Does Southwest Truck Driver Training offer a discount for veterans?
Yes. SWTDT offers a $500 military discount to qualifying veterans and active-duty service members who do not use the GI Bill®. Contact the admissions team at either campus to confirm eligibility and apply the discount.
What is the Bring a Friend discount?
If you and a friend both enroll and pay in full before training begins, you each receive $500 off your tuition. The Bring a Friend discount and the military discount cannot be combined.
Does military driving experience count toward a CDL?
Yes. The FMCSA offers a Military Skills Test Waiver Program in all 50 states. This waiver applies to service members who are or were employed within the last year in a role that required them to operate a military vehicle equivalent to a commercial vehicle.
How long does CDL training take?
The Class A and Class B CDL programs can be completed in as few as four weeks on the day schedule. Evening programs take six weeks. Weekend programs take eight weeks. All three options cover the same 160-hour curriculum. The schedule you choose determines the timeline.
Does SWTDT help veterans find jobs after graduation?
Yes. Every graduate in good standing has access to lifetime career assistance. The team connects you with recruiters at local, regional, and national carriers. That support is available at graduation and any time you need it later in your career. SWTDT also extends career assistance to veterans who didn’t train at Southwest. If you’re a veteran looking for work in trucking, reach out — the team is ready to help.
Are SWTDT's instructors veterans?
Many of SWTDT’s instructors have military backgrounds. That shared experience matters in how instruction is delivered. SWTDT looks for instructors who bring patience, honesty, and genuine investment to every student they work with.