Veteran Trade Schools

Does the GI Bill® cover CDL truck driving school?

Quick answer

Yes, if the program is approved for VA education benefits. VA names truck driving as an example of a non-college degree program it covers. Your CDL school must also be on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry for you to test for a first Class A or B license. VA's data lists 888 approved truck driving locations, listed below. [VA: Non-college degree programs] [VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

What the GI Bill pays for CDL school

These are VA's current Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) figures. VA scales tuition and housing to your eligibility percentage, which depends on how long you served.

$30,908.34Post-9/11 cap on net tuition and fees per year for non-college degree programs (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027) [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
E-5 BAHMonthly housing allowance rate basis, set by your training ZIP code [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
$83/moPost-9/11 books and supplies for NCD and OJT, up to $1,000 a year [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
$2,000Maximum VA pays back per approved licensing or certification test [VA: Licensing and certification tests]

Things to know about truck driving training

Veterans guide to CDL training. Our sister site, Verified CDL Schools, checks every CDL school against FMCSA's Training Provider Registry and explains the Military Skills Test Waiver.
Read the CDL veterans guide →

More on Verified CDL Schools: GI Bill CDL schools in Texas · GI Bill and WIOA CDL schools in Florida · How to check if a CDL school is legit.

How to use your GI Bill for CDL school

  1. Check your eligibility

    Apply for education benefits on VA.gov to get your Certificate of Eligibility. [VA: How to apply for education benefits]

  2. Pick an approved program

    Use the list below, then open the program's VA profile in the Comparison Tool. Approval is for specific programs. [VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

  3. Read the caution flags

    VA flags issues such as accreditation problems or Heightened Cash Monitoring. We show them in VA's wording.

  4. Talk to the certifying official

    The School Certifying Official reports your enrollment to VA. Confirm the start date and program before you sign anything. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

Approved truck driving programs

As of October 23, 2026, VA's data lists 888 truck driving training locations in 50 states and territories: 535 with school programs and 353 with apprenticeship or OJT. The most locations are in Texas (86), Georgia (48), Pennsylvania (46), Ohio (40), Illinois (37).

By type: 353 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 275 public colleges and technical schools, 244 for-profit schools, 16 private nonprofit schools. The most common program titles in VA's data are “Truck Driver Heavy” (150), “Truck Driver-Heavy” (58), “Truck Driver” (32).

Search all 888 truck driving locations →

Or go straight to a state:

Common questions

Will the GI Bill pay for CDL school?

Yes. VA names truck driving as an example of a non-college degree program. If the program is approved, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays the net tuition and fees up to $30,908.34 per academic year (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027), scaled to your eligibility percentage.

[VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates] [VA: Non-college degree programs]

Can I skip the CDL skills test if I drove trucks in the military?

Possibly. FMCSA's Military Skills Test Waiver lets states waive the CDL skills test for service members and veterans with two years of experience safely operating heavy military vehicles. You must apply within one year of leaving the military position that required you to operate them. Every state participates.

[FMCSA: Military Skills Test Waiver]

Does a GI Bill CDL school need to be on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry?

Two separate checks apply. VA approval decides whether the GI Bill can pay. FMCSA's Entry-Level Driver Training rules require first-time Class A or B CDL applicants to train with a provider on the Training Provider Registry. Confirm both.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [FMCSA: Entry-Level Driver Training] [FMCSA: Training Provider Registry]

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Non-college degree programs” (page last updated December 13, 2024). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “On-the-job training and apprenticeships” (page last updated February 4, 2025). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027)” (page last updated October 13, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) rates (Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Licensing and certification tests and prep courses” (page last updated October 23, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  6. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  7. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  8. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  9. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)” (page last updated February 4, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  10. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Training Provider Registry”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  11. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Military Skills Test Waiver Program”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.