Moving from the military back to civilian life is rarely simple. Your time in the military was likely fast-paced and unpredictable, and suddenly needing to reacclimate to an everyday routine can be challenging. This challenge is only magnified when military veterans have to face unemployment.
Unemployment is a difficult position for anyone to be in, but for military veterans especially. Having their life grind to a halt can be jarring and disruptive. This is a situation that Lily Transportation Corp. wants to rectify. We recognize the unique values that veterans can bring to our company and are eager to support the skills you have learned in the military.
Here are just a few of the ways Lily Transportation—and the Veteran’s Network program we offer—is striving to help lower the rate of unemployed veterans:
Obtaining Your CDL
Before you can get behind the wheel and hit the road, professional truck drivers need to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL). Typically, you’ll need to take a training course that will earn you a CDL permit, which will then allow you to drive a truck with a CDL-certified driver present. This provides you with valuable experience and will prepare you for the CDL driving skills test, which you can take after you’ve had your permit for 14-days.
However, if you have experience driving trucks or buses from your time in the military then you may qualify for a Military CDL Waiver. This can be a great way for veterans to bypass the training process and get on the road as soon as possible.
As of 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that “more than 19,000 current and former military have taken advantage of the Skills Test Waiver, making them immediately eligible for employment.”
If you qualify for the veteran CDL waiver, then you won’t need to attend truck driving school or even hold a permit before getting your CDL. There will still be a written exam, however, so be sure to pick up a CDL manual from your local DMV to review. You may be able to obtain sample tests from your state as well, that you can use to practice with.
Programs for Veterans
If you don’t have prior experience operating trucks, then don’t worry! As soon as you acquire your CDL certification, you can enter into a Lily training program that will help fine-tune your skills behind the wheel of our trucks. This unique veteran training program, which we provide to all of our veterans in exchange for a one-year commitment in an over the road assignment, comes with a number of incentives:
- The curriculum is fully paid for by Lily and will not deplete your GI Bill benefits.
- In addition to a full scholarship, you will also be paid a salary of $800 per week plus company benefits during the training process.
- Upon graduation, you will become a member of the Lily family and receive annual compensation in the $70,000 range.
Driving with Lily
Military veterans make excellent truck drivers, and Lily Transportation Corp. would love to work with you and help you find a truck driving position that is a productive, exciting, and sustainable career path. Currently, over 15% of our employees are military veterans and it’s our goal to see that percentage grow each and every year. We want to work alongside you, help you in your transition from military to civilian life, and train you to find success as a professional truck driver.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Lily can help military veterans find a career that works for them, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 800-248-5459 or visit our Careers Page to apply directly online. We can’t wait to hear from you!
