Veteran CDL Training and VA Benefits in San Diego and Riverside, California

If you’re an eligible veteran, service member, or military spouse, you may be able to use your VA education benefits to pay for CDL training at United’s San Diego or Riverside campus. United accepts these benefits for all programs and the VA determines your final eligibility and benefit amount.

Your service already taught you discipline and how to handle responsibility, and we’d like to help you put that toward a driving career. We use the same admissions standards and CDL curriculum for every student, whether you’re military-connected or not.

Which VA Education Benefits Can Help Pay for CDL Training?

We accept these benefits for our CDL programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), including benefits transferred from a spouse or parent
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
• SpouseWorks Scholarship, formerly known as MyCAA, for eligible military spouses

VA sets your exact payment amount. It depends on your VA chapter, your service history, and your benefit tier.

We’re licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE), though accreditation alone doesn’t confirm VA benefit eligibility for a specific program.

Check the current status of our San Diego and Riverside locations using the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, or ask a VR&E counselor. Helpful Hint: Search for United Truck and Car Driving School.

If you’re comparing GI Bill truck driving schools, check program cost, timeline, and VA approval status before you apply. For other ways to cover the remaining cost, visit our tuition assistance page.

CDL Programs Available to Veterans

Our CDL training for veterans covers three program tracks. Each program combines classroom instruction with behind-the-wheel practice. Training happens at the San Diego or Riverside campus. Full program details live on the CDL training hub.

Class A CDL training prepares you for entry-level over-the-road or local truck driving work. Most students finish in as little as 4 weeks.

Class A plus Passenger adds a passenger endorsement to Class A training. This opens up bus and passenger-vehicle work along with truck driving. It runs about 186 hours over four and a half weeks.

Class B plus Passenger CDL training prepares you for local truck or bus driving work, with endorsement options in Hazmat, tanker, and passenger. It runs about 120 hours over three weeks.

Military CDL training pathways here follow the same admissions process as any other student’s enrollment.

Read Our Blog: A Veteran’s Experience a United →

How to Start Using Your Benefits at United

1. Confirm eligibility with VA. Check the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool or apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. This shows which benefit chapter applies to you and what it might cover.
2. Talk with United admissions. An admissions representative can walk you through program options, from Class A to Class B plus Passenger, along with campus and schedule choices.
3. Confirm program and benefit details before you enroll. United’s certifying official can confirm which VA benefit applies to your program and campus, and how much of the cost it’s expected to cover.

Veteran CDL Training questions

VA benefits can be confusing to sort through on your own, so here are quick answers to what veterans ask us most.

Can I use the GI Bill for truck driving school?

Yes the GI Bill can cover truck driver training at United Truck Driving School.

Does VA pay the full cost of CDL training?

Not always. VA pays net tuition and fees up to a set yearly maximum, so your actual payment may be less than the full tuition cost.

What does CDL tuition include?

Our tuition covers registration, classroom instruction, study materials, testing fees, the DOT physical, drug screening, equipment training, and job placement . The VA benefit does not currently cover the cost of the DOT physical and drug screen.

How long does veteran CDL training take?

Training length depends on the program: Class A and Class B often finish in about three weeks, while Class A plus Passenger runs about four and a half weeks.

Can military driving experience reduce CDL testing requirements?

Some military drivers with recent, relevant experience may qualify for a skills test waiver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the federal standard, and a waiver doesn’t mean you can skip all training. Every new CDL applicant must still complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT).

Employers prefer to hire licensed drivers that have completed a full behind-the-wheel training program (160 hours) so they are familiar with civilian commercial vehicles, laws and industry standards.

Is the San Diego or Riverside campus and program approved for VA benefits?

Yes, VA education benefits can be used at BOTH United Truck Driving School locations.

How do I check eligibility and get a Certificate of Eligibility?

Apply for benefits and a Certificate of Eligibility directly through VA. It shows which benefit chapter applies to you and how much entitlement you have left.

Does VA pay the school or pay me directly?

It depends on the benefit. Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition and fees go to the school, while a housing allowance and book stipend, when they apply, go to you.

Can a spouse or dependent use transferred benefits or the SpouseWorks Scholarship?

Yes, if the service member named you as the recipient and you meet VA’s rules, or if you qualify for SpouseWorks. Confirm current terms through Military OneSource before you enroll.

What happens to my benefits if I withdraw?

VA recalculates your benefit based on your last day of attendance, and we report the change. Ask admissions for our current refund policy before you enroll.

Request Help from Admissions

Figuring out how your benefits apply can take some back and forth, and our admissions team is glad to walk through it with you, from campus options to program schedules to next steps. Request information from Admissions to start the conversation or review our tuition assistance page for other funding options.