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Did you know that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every four veterans are truck drivers? Or that 10 percent of all truck drivers are veterans? Truck driver employers are in a unique position to provide support and assistance to these hardworking and brave individuals, and there are many organizations and programs available to help along the way.  

  

Each November, Veteran’s Day reminds us of the great dedication, commitment, and sacrifices made by the men and women who have served our country. Their bravery is why countless carriers, support groups, and government organizations work year round to provide resources for veterans entering the truck driving industry and support to those already hard at work. Keep reading to find out how these helpful resources could be of assistance to drivers in your fleet.  

  

How to Help Veterans Entering the Industry 

One of the most difficult parts about leaving a career in the military can be the transition into civilian life. Finding the right job that fits their qualifications, interests, and needs can feel impossible. Many veterans choose a career in the truck driving industry because of the job availability, flexible hours, and financial stability.   

  

The Trucking Action Plan to Strengthen America’s Workforce was launched in 2021 by President Biden with the goal of making it easier for veterans to enter and adjust to the trucking industry. This program offers a wealth of opportunities in addition to the benefits already offered by the longstanding GI Bill.   

  

To help drivers with educational instruction or to connect them with field experts, the Department of Labor’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a great place to start. TAP provides education on workplace fundamentals, as well as other benefits for veterans such as: mentorships, job fairs, resume help, internships, and more!  

 

  

Qualifying veterans who have experience operating large military vehicles are also able to waive the commercial driver’s license skills test, making the hiring process more efficient. The FMCSA offers a waiver that allows veterans to forgo driving tests, as long as they are currently licensed to operate military motor vehicles and have done so in the last 12 months. Currently, this waiver is available in all states.   

  

Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator Training Grant can also be used to pay for a trucking education program. This grant applies to all US Armed Forces members and their spouses.  

  

If you already know that some of the drivers in your fleet are veterans who won’t need assistance entering the field, there are still many resources and organizations available to offer round the clock support.   

  

Veterans In Trucking is a company that makes its mission to connect veterans with resources, career opportunities, and industry connections. It assists carriers in creating veteran-readiness programs and offers a platform to apply for job postings for carriers that value and support veteran drivers.   

  

The company also provides support to veterans through life changing experiences, such as their current Mission Veteran Expedition to Vietnam, giving veterans of the Vietnam War a chance to return to the country and see it in a new light.   

  

For those looking to honor fellow or fallen veterans, organizations such as Wreaths Across America offer chances to show your support. Wreaths Across America recognizes and honors fallen soldiers and veterans by placing wreaths on gravestones across the country every holiday season.   

  

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, more than 2 million volunteers and supporters will honor fallen veterans at national cemeteries and more than 4,000 locations nationwide. If you’d like to participate, it’s not too late. There are a number of ways you can be a part of this mission:  

  

  1. Truckers can volunteer to haul loads – just scroll down the page and click “Volunteer for Trucking” to fill out the form.  
  2. Volunteer to place wreaths – just click on the “Volunteer” button to find a participating cemetery near you and fill out the form.  
  3. Sponsor a wreath – just click on the “Sponsor Wreaths” button and make your selection. You can also sponsor a specific cemetery or local sponsorship group.  
  4. Donate to the cause – donate monetarily towards the transportation fund. This fund helps provide fuel assistance to make sure all the wreaths get to the final resting place of our heroes.  

  

Veterans in the trucking industry should never feel alone. It’s important as an employer to make sure that any veteran employees feel supported and secure. Share with them the many organizations and companies across the country who make it their mission to offer resources and opportunities that are always available.   

  

If you’ve worked with a great organization for veteran truck drivers or have any stories to share, please reach out to us on our social media!    

 

 

Truck driving is a career path that demands strength, resilience, and commitment to seeing a job through. A good driver can take pride in the work of a job well done, even during the long, quiet miles of the open road. The same skills are required of the courageous men and women who serve our country. However, for veterans who choose to become drivers, the transition from the armed forces to trucking can be a challenging one, especially when it comes to mental health. We spoke with David Pike, Director of Recruiting for NFI, who shared his story of life as a military veteran and ways he’s found support with the trucking industry. 

A Comrade in Arms 

David Pike’s professional journey began in the Marine Corps, where he worked until 1994. After working in an ammunition and explosives MOS for six years, Sergeant Pike was returning from the Western Pacific deployment when he learned there were opportunities to be assigned to recruiting duty stateside and in the local community. He took the opportunity and quickly fell in love with the rewarding feeling of how recruiting can change someone’s life. 

 

“Initially, in military recruiting, you’re selling the glory, honor, and reputation of the Marine Corps. That changed shortly after a young Marine I had recruited, returned home from boot camp and said, “Thank You”. Not sure at the time why gratitude was extended, “It later hit me that I had changed that Marine’s life and gave him an opportunity and hope for a better future.” Pike said. Later, Pike shared, “Changing someone’s life is powerful and should be taken with the highest level of responsibility in any profession, especially transportation,” and this is why he loves so much of what we do in recruiting. He later noted, “We truly and genuinely affect people’s lives.” 

 

In 1993, upon leaving the Marine Corps after almost 10 years, Sergeant Pike transitioned his recruiting skills into the transportation industry. That transition was not without hurdles, but his story is a testament to resilience and dedication. He stated that in the 30 years since joining the transportation world, he and his team fully embrace the concept of changing lives and not “filling seats.” Pike shared with us a few of his most passionate items relating to his profession; and being a veteran himself, it is obvious that is one area that he is championing within NFI. Veterans all too often need advocacy when coming to a new industry. Veterans speak the same language and understand each other’s stories, challenges, and armored front better than most.  

Supporting Drivers: Unseen Battles 

Stress is a real issue in the transportation industry. Professional drivers may be comfortable dealing with the challenges of the road, but veterans have other battles and challenges they may be dealing with that are unique. “Mental health battles are often left unseen and not addressed,” Pike states. He highlighted the unspoken realities of veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. He pointed out that, 

 

“As veterans, we are expected to blend seamlessly back into civilian life despite having put up a shield for years even while carrying emotional burdens, memories, and experiences that most people will never understand. In the service, especially if you have any position of leadership, you are taught to NEVER show weakness, show confidence to your troops.” 

 

As a veteran, professional drivers may be reluctant to share their experiences from their past, even if it’s negatively affecting their present work. However, as an employer, sometimes simply checking in on the well-being of your drivers, especially at the human level, can make all the difference. Pike shared a powerful story about the significance of prioritizing humanity and respect as a recruiting professional. He recounts an experience with an Iraq War veteran translator and now a professional driver, Mohammed. Mohammed showed classic traits of stress and being visibly strained.  

 

His transportation manager reached out and learned that he was struggling with a tremendous burden and was now financially responsible for his brother, sister, and mother. They relocated to the States after the Iraq War. Due to his new familial responsibilities and schedule, Mohammed’s manager engaged and helped find solutions that would work for both Mohammed and NFI. This provided him a more conducive schedule to allow time to address those burdens and challenges at home and remain with NFI. Pike states, “It is that level of human connectivity that is often forgotten in trucking” and one we agree needs to return. When carriers engage at a human level, everyone wins; carriers earn loyalty from their associates, associates feel appreciated, and all related items tend to fall in place. The human factor is something Pike emphasizes and is something that sets his employer, NFI Industries, apart from so many others in the industry.  

The Power of Understanding 

Truck drivers may not always talk about mental health, but it’s a subject that affects us all. Pike was very open with us about his mental health struggles and ongoing resolution. His journey serves as a reminder that we’re not alone in this. In his role as Director of Recruiting with NFI, Pike knows that veterans often emerge from service with emotional armor, and the industry has a role to play in helping them transition to civilian life successfully. He advocates for support that comes from trucking companies and from fellow drivers, especially those who are brothers in arms. 

 

“We, as an industry, have to recognize that every veteran is coming out with an armored up mentality around one’s own struggles. We have to learn how to help veterans tear that armor down and be more receptive. How do we provide the tools and resources? How do we open doors for those veterans to get the help and get the transitional needs when they’re uncomfortable discussing their challenges? Connecting at a human level is where we have to start.” 

 

As recruiters in the trucking industry, Pike emphasizes the personal and company-wide responsibility to appreciate the value veterans bring to work teams. Their resilience, discipline, and dedication are qualities that can greatly benefit our companies and industry. Furthermore, he argues that employers must create environments that encourage open discussions about mental health and provide support to veterans and anyone else who needs it. 

 

Knowing the value of veterans, NTI is asking companies about how they recruit and retain military veterans in trucking careers. The results of this survey will yield invaluable insights into one of the most important recruiting segments in trucking. Please take a few minutes to tell them about your company’s recruiting and retention practices via this survey (at this link). They want to hear from you! 

 

The trucking industry can be a place of opportunity, support, and growth for veterans, provided employers are willing to open doors and extend a welcome to them. Through education, support, and understanding, employers can create an industry where veterans thrive and their unique skills and experiences are celebrated.