Bipartisan legislation was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate to make it easier for veterans to access apprenticeship programs operated by trucking companies.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation to increase veterans’ access to trucking apprenticeship programs with their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits by allowing the VA to approve programs operated by interstate commercial trucking companies. The bill would streamline the approval process and cut red tape that makes it difficult for veterans to participate in apprenticeships that operate across multiple states.
“Veterans deserve support,” said Cassidy. “Many struggle to find work when they come home. Having a commercial driver’s license opens a lot of doors for them.”
The bill is supported by a number of Veterans Service Organizations and stakeholders, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Trucking Association (ATA).
“Trucking apprenticeships offer meaningful employment and a fulfilling career pathway, and we owe it to our nation’s veterans to provide support as they seek next steps in their transition to civilian life," said Blumenthal. With the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act, we eliminate bureaucratic red tape hindering veterans from accessing trucking apprenticeships and ensure that veterans are able to access these programs through their VA education benefits. This commonsense legislation allows veterans to more easily access necessary training for a rewarding career when they return home."
“Members of our military put their lives on the line to defend our nation and our freedom. When they return home, it is our responsibility to help them achieve the American Dream they fought to protect,” said ATA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “By slashing bureaucratic red tape for VA education benefits, the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act would expand career paths in trucking and make it easier for veterans to find good-paying jobs behind the wheel."
Trucking companies currently operating in more than one state must get approval from each state to allow veterans to use their VA education benefits for apprenticeship programs with their company. In some cases, these companies have opted out of offering apprenticeships for veterans due to the burdensome red tape required to get more than 20 different approvals. This bill would allow interstate commercial carriers to get one approval for their apprenticeship programs from the VA, making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs.
