Question:
Out of curiousity, I'm noticing a lot of separating or retiring military personnel entering the trucking industry. Can this be because of the sluggish economy or because one can make approximately 28k-30k 1st year in OTR trucking?

Answer:
Trucking companies like retired military for the following reasons (list is not all encompassing):
Vets know how to work on their own
Vets can improvise and overcome
Vets have excellent people skills
Vets can routinely pass a drug test
Vets (and spouse) are used to (vet) being away from home
Vets find most sleepers plush compared to a tent or a fighting position (foxhole)
Vets have excellent work ethic
Vets aren't in the fertilizer business, they don't take it and they don't give it, unless pushed.
Vets know their personal limits and when to push... or not to
BOL

Answer:
Yep... What Sealord said.... And more....
But also, considering the number of separating/retiring vets every month, the percentage going into truck out the gate is really pretty low..... Good luck!!
USAF - 70-94
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I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!! I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

Answer:
To mention a couple of points.
Ex military are used to:
Hurry up and wait
Taking orders that seem to make no sense at all.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
Can this be because of the sluggish economy or because one can make approximately 28k-30k 1st year in OTR trucking?
Exactly,the slow economy is a reason for the
influx of those seperated. The Retirees also are willing to work for the wage because they have the supplimental income. Contrary to the other
Posters the make up of Vets is a cross section of Society,good,bad and ugly.
Mike
Answer:
Yep what RABELAM and Uturn said. I wouldn't forget that vets are what the doctor ordered for the training companies.
I know some vets that are the exact opposite of that list up there. For some reason when they retired all that went out the window. Either they had to have someone tell them what to do every day or they finally got the chance to be themselves. You'll see and especially hear them in the truck stops. It will make you very ashamed of what that person stood for. They forget not everyone wants to hear their super hero or super trucker stories. Especially if you can smell them coming. I'm not meaning to slam anyone. Just sharing personal experience.
I've also met some that match it perfectly. They make you proud. I guess people are people and all are unique. I hope that most who desire to go into trucking do it as professional as possible.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Originally posted by Sealord:
Trucking companies like retired military for the following reasons (list is not all encompassing):
Vets know how to work on their own
Vets can improvise and overcome
Vets have excellent people skills
Vets can routinely pass a drug test
Vets (and spouse) are used to (vet) being away from home
Vets find most sleepers plush compared to a tent or a fighting position (foxhole)
Vets have excellent work ethic
Vets aren't in the fertilizer business, they don't take it and they don't give it, unless pushed.
Vets know their personal limits and when to push... or not to
BOL
I think that the #1 reason trucking companies like veterans is because:
The military is used to working long hours for little pay with no overtime in often hazardous conditions.
Fits the trucking industry to a "T"!!!!
http://www.subway.com
"Daddy was a veteran, a southern Democrat. They oughta get a rich man to vote like that." - Alabama


Answer:
Thanks for the responses, sounds like you all are correct.