Military veterans have risked their lives day in and day out when they were on active duty and most definitely deserve to return to their civilian life and live it with dignity. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. They often have issues finding a job, which can create a laundry list of problems from issues with diminishing self-esteem to debt and much more.
However, there are industries that welcome veterans with open arms and that can greatly benefit from hiring a person with military training, and one such industry is trucking.
In this blog, we will look into the qualities veterans have acquired during the military careers that make them great truck drivers.
A whole new level of alertness
People with military training can reach an incredible level of alertness. They have been trained to pay attention to their surroundings at all times, which is an extremely useful trait for a truck driver to have. Veterans have been trained to keep a check on their gear, their fellow soldiers, their surroundings, and the opposing side, which is quite a mental challenge.
With their incredible sense of awareness, veterans make very careful and focused drivers. They are trained to quickly assess situations and act accordingly, and will often be able to spot problematic situations well ahead of time.
Patience, patience, and more patience
Veterans are trained to be patient. They are taught to cooperate with others in order to successfully achieve a goal, so they won’t deviate from the plan just because they are bored. If the plan calls for waiting 2 hours for your truck to be loaded, they will wait. They will probably even lend a hand.
Being patient is extremely useful when you’re stuck in traffic. Not only because traffic threatens to mess up your timeline, but because it tends to bring out the worst in people. They can become aggressive and try to stir up trouble, which is why a calm and composed driver is exactly what you want behind the wheel. Veterans are also trained to de-escalate conflict, which can come in handy on the road from time to time.
Discipline as second nature
Discipline is the number one skill developed in the military and it is crucial for its success, much like it is essential for pretty much any job out there. Trucking is no exception, as a lot depends on a well-planned haul.
Veterans have been trained to be frugal and efficient with their resources, so they are able to plan their routes carefully. They can use their planning abilities to mark the cheapest gas stops and find the most affordable place to spend the night. Veterans also understand the importance of being on time and respecting other people’s schedules, so you can be sure they will do their best to get the goods from point A to point B on time.
Long hauls aren’t that long for veterans
Even the longest hauls are shorter than one tour veterans do abroad, and a lot of veterans have several tours under their belt. There are used to spending a lot of their time traveling, and that travel is nowhere near as comfortable as it is in a truck (although that can get pretty uncomfortable, too).
You can rely on veterans when it comes to long hauls. They already have plenty of experience traveling and transporting things in all sorts of circumstances, and they are trained to stay focused and work towards their goal.
No man left behind
Probably one of the most important things people are taught in the military is the importance of teamwork. They are taught to efficiently distribute work and to rely on each other’s skills, especially in sticky situations.
This kind of spirit is what every company is looking for, and the trucking industry is no different. Being available and willing to help during loading and unloading, as well as during route planning and even filling in for a fellow driver, is something veterans will almost always be ready to do if needed.
Although we do have Veteran’s Day, it’s important to show our gratitude each and every day to the people who put their lives at stake in order to protect ours. Lend a helping hand if you can and tell them they are always welcome in our Rakmark family.