Senator working to make CDL training easier for veterans

West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller is working on a plan to renew a program in which military veterans can get the necessary CDL training to become part of the trucking workforce, according to Lewisburg CBS affiliate WVNS.

The news source said that current legislation is making it difficult for military veterans who drove large trucks to earn the appropriate certifications, even though they received similar training while in the armed forces.

"Making sure members of the armed forces and veterans have ample and fair employment opportunities is essential and improving the commercial driver's licensing process for them is simply logical," said Rockefeller in a recent release.

Rockefeller believes the current restrictions hampering the efforts of veterans trying to become truckers are unacceptable, especially with the shortage of drivers, said the source.

The Tribune Chronicle, a daily newspaper serving Warren, Ohio, reported one opportunity available for veterans is to become drivers in the drilling industry, which is willing to hire and train veterans.

The paper said many drilling companies are taking on veterans without CDL credentials and training them. Businesses looking to provide CDL training to hires can turn to online programs that are convenient for both employers and workers.

Senator working to make CDL training easier for veterans

Friday, March 9th, 2012