Program gives vets advantage in owning a business

  • Published
  • By Annette Crawford
  • AF Small Business Solutions Center
BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Military veterans interested in being owner-operator truck drivers now can achieve that goal quicker and less expensively, thanks to an agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Schneider National, Inc. 

Officials from the VA and Schneider signed a memorandum of understanding July 1, giving veterans the opportunity to use their GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of commercial driver's license training at Schneider's Driver Training Academies. Schneider, known as a leading provider of transportation and logistics services, has academies in Green Bay, Wis.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Charlotte, N.C.; Fontana, Calif.; and Dallas. 

The Schneider National Veterans Owner-Operator Program will assist veterans with the training, mentoring, financial incentives and purchasing power they need to achieve their goal. 

"This is the first time we've been able to establish a program that goes from employment to entrepreneurship with the same company," said Scott Denniston, director, Office of Small Business and the Center for Veterans Enterprise, Department of Veterans Affairs. 

"The whole goal is to get veterans trained and the proper licensing that's required," Mr. Denniston said. "From there, after being a driver for Schneider, they can move into being an owner-operator and having control of their future and owning their own truck." 

Under the new program, vets will be able to become owner-operators six months sooner than others who have no military background. 

Schneider's connection with veterans is nothing new.  More than 25 percent of the company's associates -- 16 percent of management -- once wore military uniforms. Rob Reich, vice president of driver recruiting for Schneider, is no exception. The former Army officer and Gulf War veteran said the connection goes back to the company's roots. 

"When our company started in the 1930s, Al Schneider, our founder, sold the family car and bought a truck. As his one-truck business grew, the drivers he hired were his friends from his Wisconsin National Guard unit," Mr. Reich said. 

Since the mid-1970s, Mr. Reich said Schneider has "put a lot of emphasis on veterans hiring programs and outreach, and it's gone extremely well for us ever since."  He added that veterans are a good match for his company. 

"There's a couple key attributes to an over the road truck driver position," Mr. Reich said.  "One is safety.  That's our first and primary value at Schneider.  We want to make sure that someone understands that and really embraces safety. 

"Then it's really very much about being able to independently manage yourself while you're in your truck and your manager is not with you," he said.  "We really look for someone who can be comfortable under some amount of pressure, someone who can make independent decisions and someone who really enjoys having that level of responsibility.  Veterans ... (have) been a great match, not only for driver jobs but many other roles at Schneider." 

Retired Master Sgt. William Bone is a perfect example of that. He joined Schneider in 2000 after a 20-year career -- 12 years as a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief and eight years in Air Force Recruiting Service. He is one of the company's business operations managers. 

"Since I was hired into a leadership role at Schneider National, Inc., I quickly realized that the unique leadership challenges presented to me while a member of the Air Force prepared me well for my current role," Sergeant Bone said. 

"Being willing to accept individual accountability, being unafraid to demonstrate initiative, and being able to foster teamwork and develop critical thinking skill-sets will be invaluable for anyone preparing for their transition out of the Air Force and into the corporate environment," he said. 

"We applaud Schneider National for stepping up and volunteering to help veterans through the Veterans Owner-Operator Program," Mr. Denniston said. "Clearly, Schneider knows the value of what veterans bring to the table: perseverance, teamwork and a keen ability to get the job done right." 

Mr. Denniston said the program falls in line with the VA's objective of helping veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life. 

"We hope that other companies learn about what we're doing with Schneider and they'll give some thought to how they can develop similar programs for the industries they're in," he said.  "Rather than doing a cookie-cutter approach, I think this is something that can take on a form of its own and each one can be very different." 

Veterans interested in learning more about Schneider's Owner-Operator Program should call 1-800-44-PRIDE or visit www.schneiderjobs.com.

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