As a fully-licensed commercial driver, I know that military veterans who classified as truck drivers in the service did not/do not learn everything that is necessary to safely drive a commercial vehicle on the public highways. I work with many of them and most will tell you that they had to learn a great many additional skills when driving in an unrestricted situation. This is NOT FAIR to these drivers-they lack the training they need to be successful and safe drivers without additional instruction. Many have only driven a vehicle in a convoy situation a few times. Others have been classified as truck drivers by the military and have NEVER driven a truck.
Instead, provide training in Commercial truck driving for those veterans. We need good, steady patriotic drivers that can speak English. We are attempting to strengthen the training requirements for commercial truck drivers-we dont need them negated with this kind of legislation.
It's apparent that the member introducing this legislation has not the foggiest idea of what skills are necessary to drive a truck. I'd like to offer to take him for a ride for a week or three-he might gain some understanding of the job.