Returning to civilian life after you’re finished with the military can be challenging, and finding a job may be even more so. So if you’re a veteran, have you ever considered a career in the trucking industry? There are several skills as a veteran you no doubt possess that would be perfect for truck driving.
Situational Awareness
Just like in the military, in the trucking industry it is important to know your surroundings at all times. You need to keep an eye on not only the road ahead of you, but also what is going on around you, weather-related situations, your route, and other situations that may arise.
Adaptability
In the military, you need to have flexibility for the situations you come across throughout your time in the service. As a truck driver, you need to be able to adapt to the situations listed above as well. You need to adapt and at certain times, make adjustments to things out of your control.
Teamwork
In the military, you were used to working with your fellow servicemen and women to complete tasks. As a trucker, you must be able to work together with other personnel to get the job done effectively. Everybody needs to be on the same page to ensure things run smoothly.
Pride
As you showed your pride in the military with not only what you were doing to serve your country, but also in your uniforms; as a truck driver, you must also take pride in what you do and how you present yourself to represent the company you work for.
Endurance
When you were in the military, there are times I’m sure you had to stay extremely focused on a certain task for an extended period of time. This is also a great skill to have as a truck driver. Most drivers begin their careers as over-the-road (OTR) drivers, and when you’re driving for several weeks at a time, this becomes a necessary skill.
Respect
The military is all about respect: respect for your superiors, your fellow servicemen and servicewomen and respect for yourself. Being in the trucking industry requires showing respect for everyone you meet and yourself. Showing respect for everyone can even get you promoted within your company.
If you’re looking for a career after the military where you can apply all the great skills you learned while serving, look no further. Not only does truck driving have fantastic job security, but it also provides great starting pay and benefits. Veterans may even qualify to waive their CDL skills test requirement according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. All you need is the Veteran CDL Skills Test Waiver and certain qualifications from your time in the military. Even if you can’t waive the skills test, driving schools will help veterans be on their way to a secure future as a truck driver!
And if you want a great place to start your truck-driving career, make sure you think of Roeder Cartage Company, Inc. We train our drivers and keep them certified along with providing our employees with a family friendly environment. To apply, simply click the link and fill out an application today and let us help you start your truck-driving career!