Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) today introduced legislation aimed at facilitating veterans' access to trucking apprenticeship programs. The bipartisan bill, titled the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act, seeks to streamline the process for veterans to use their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for such programs.

Senator Cassidy emphasized the importance of supporting veterans, stating, "Let’s help veterans any way in which we can. Having a commercial driver’s license is a great career. Let’s make sure the veterans know about it." Senator Tester echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the crucial role of truckers in fueling the economy and the need to support veterans in accessing trucking apprenticeships, saying, “Truckers and transportation workers fuel our economy, and we’ve got to be doing everything we can to bring more qualified truckers into the fold, including our nation’s veterans.”

The bill addresses the bureaucratic hurdles that currently hinder veterans from utilizing trucking apprenticeships across multiple states. It aims to simplify the approval process for interstate commercial carriers offering apprenticeship programs, making it easier for veterans to access these opportunities. Various Veterans Service Organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Trucking Association (ATA), have expressed their support for the bill.

DAV National Commander Nancy Espinosa highlighted the importance of facilitating veterans' transition to civilian life through meaningful employment, stating, “That’s why DAV fully supports the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act as it would allow the VA to approve apprenticeship programs operated by interstate commercial carriers, thereby providing service-disabled veterans the opportunity to obtain a CDL and overcome their employment barriers.”

Similarly, VFW Deputy Legislative Director Kristina Keenan praised the bill for simplifying the approval process for apprenticeship programs operated by interstate commercial carriers, emphasizing the potential benefits for student veterans seeking training for high-demand jobs. The ATA also commended Senators Tester and Cassidy for their initiative, acknowledging the positive impact of the legislation on facilitating veterans' entry into fulfilling careers in the trucking industry.

Overall, the Veterans Transition to Trucking Act aims to reduce red tape and bureaucratic barriers, making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs and pursue rewarding careers in the industry.