Yes, veterans can use the GI Bill® to pay for CDL training. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) lists truck driving as a non-college degree program, and Diesel Driving Academy (DDA) is approved to accept VA education benefits. This guide explains how VA pays for CDL training and the steps veterans follow to use their benefits for a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL).
A CDL is one of the more direct paths from military service to a civilian job, and many of the skills veterans built in uniform carry over to a career in trucking.
How VA Pays for CDL Training
VA treats CDL training differently from a college degree. A college counts credit hours. A truck driving school counts clock hours, which are the hours a student is scheduled to attend each week. How VA pays depends on which benefit the student uses. DDA accepts several VA programs to train veterans and their families.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA sends tuition and fees straight to the school. From Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, VA pays net tuition and mandatory fees for non-college degree programs up to a certain amount. Each veteran receives a percentage of that based on time spent on active duty.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill may also pay a monthly housing allowance and up to $83 per month for books and supplies. VA bases these payments on clock hours, length of service, class location and enrollment dates.
Montgomery GI Bill and Other VA Programs (Chapters 30, 1606 and 35)
The Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty and Selected Reserve) and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program work differently. VA pays the student a set monthly rate, and the student pays the school. The rate depends on the program and on how many clock hours the student attends each week.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is for veterans with a service-connected disability. A VR&E counselor works with the veteran to build a training plan, and the counselor must approve the CDL program before training starts.
Tuition Assistance and SpouseWorks
DoD Tuition Assistance and SpouseWorks come from the Department of Defense, not VA. Service members and spouses apply through their own military education office or portal, and approval must come before class starts.
How Clock Hours Affect GI Bill Payments
VA uses clock hours to decide whether a student is full-time, three-quarter time, or half time. The rules change based on whether most of the training happens in a classroom or hands-on.
| Type of training | Full-time | Three-quarter time | Half time |
| More than half in a classroom | 18 or more hours a week | 13 to 17 hours | 9 to 12 hours |
| More than half hands-on | 22 or more hours a week | 16 to 21 hours | 11 to 15 hours |
Source: VA, Non-college degree programs
DDA’s 8-week Class A CDL program meets 4 hours a day, Monday through Friday, for 20 clock hours a week. That is more than half time under either rule. Training time affects the size of monthly payments, so DDA’s School Certifying Official and VA confirm each student’s exact rate.
Steps to Use the GI Bill for CDL Training
- Confirm eligibility and school approval. VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool shows which schools are approved and estimates benefits.
- Choose a benefit. Some veterans qualify for more than one GI Bill program. The VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 can explain the choice before the veteran applies.
- Apply on VA.gov. Veterans and service members apply for education benefits online at VA.gov. Family members using transferred or survivor benefits, and veterans applying for VR&E, use separate applications.
- Get the Certificate of Eligibility. After approval, VA sends a Certificate of Eligibility. It shows the benefit type, the percentage the veteran qualifies for and the months of benefits left.
- Enroll at DDA. Students must be at least 21 years old by graduation and have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, a DOT physical and a passed drug test. During training, students also complete the state steps for getting a CDL in Louisiana, from the learner’s permit to the skills test.
- Give the Certificate of Eligibility to DDA. DDA’s School Certifying Official reports the enrollment to VA. VA does not pay until the school certifies the enrollment.
- Verify enrollment during training. Most GI Bill students must confirm their enrollment with VA each month by text, email or online. Skipping this step can delay payments.
Processing can take several weeks, so veterans should apply well before their planned start date. New classes at DDA start on the first and third Monday of each month.
When the GI Bill Does Not Cover Everything
Some veterans qualify for less than 100% of Post-9/11 benefits, and some programs pay a monthly rate that may not match the full cost of training. In these cases, VA benefits can be combined with federal grants and loans and other ways to pay for CDL training.
Veterans who drove heavy vehicles in the military may also qualify for the Military Skills Test Waiver, which can shorten the path to a CDL after military service.
Using GI Bill Benefits at DDA
DDA offers Class A CDL training at three Louisiana campuses in Shreveport, Baton Rouge and Monroe. The 8-week program totals 160 hours, with afternoon classes from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or evening classes from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
DDA’s admissions team has helped hundreds of veterans with GI Bill paperwork. After training, graduates can work with DDA’s job placement team, which connects them with carriers that are hiring. DDA does not guarantee a job.
Veterans can contact DDA admissions to talk about benefits, class times and start dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using the GI Bill for CDL training use up all of a veteran’s benefits?
No. An 8-week program uses only part of a veteran’s benefits, and VA allows leftover benefits to be used for another approved program later.
Can service members use the GI Bill for CDL training while still on active duty?
Yes. However, active-duty members using the Post-9/11 GI Bill do not receive the monthly housing allowance.
Can family members use a veteran’s GI Bill for CDL training?
Yes, in some cases. Spouses and children can use Post-9/11 benefits that a service member transferred to them, and some survivors and dependents qualify for the DEA program (Chapter 35).
When do GI Bill payments start?
VA starts payments after the school certifies enrollment. Monthly payments, such as the housing allowance, are paid at the start of the next month for training already completed.
What happens to GI Bill benefits if a student leaves CDL training early?
VA may ask the student to pay back benefits for training that was not completed. Students should talk with DDA’s School Certifying Official before withdrawing.
Do GI Bill benefits expire?
It depends on the program. Post-9/11 benefits do not expire for service members who left service on or after Jan. 1, 2013, while Montgomery GI Bill benefits usually expire 10 years after separation.
How can a veteran check how many months of GI Bill benefits are left?
Veterans can check their remaining benefits by signing in at VA.gov. The Certificate of Eligibility also lists the months of benefits left.
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.