Driving is a passion for a whole lot around the world. But when it comes to driving a truck, it is something different. The willpower and sturdiness to do it are worth mentioning. A career as a truck driver is adventurous as well as a dangerous one too, so it needs proper training to get it through properly. The earning may differ according to experience, still making it an attractive career. It is also considered dangerous too according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as they might have to face anxiety and psychosomatic problems due to the challenges on the road.

Even though university degrees are not mandatory for becoming a truck driver, if you have earned a high school diploma or GED, then it would be commendable. There are various truck driving schools that are coming up with such programs along with sufficient scholarship options. Some of such examples are listed below.

1. Affordable Truck Driver Training (ATDT) Financing Options

When education becomes a barrier to getting ahead of education, it might turn out to be a deal-breaker for some. School expenses are far beyond imaginable. The course offered by the ATDT is reasonable and are also funded with scholarship options from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and WIA grants. The school also has approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. If the applicant is a veteran, then they can avail the advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will cover the whole cost of your trucker training program.

Provided by: Affordable Truck Driver Training ATDT
Amount: Varies
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: N/A
Apply Now

2. The Women in Trucking Foundation Scholarship

The Women in Trucking Foundation provides Spring 2021 scholarships in the categories of Leadership, Driving, Safety, and Technical in order to make the inheritance of education in trucking strong enough. The Foundation aims at bringing up women in the trucking industry in order to make it the leader in national associations characterizing women. Scholarship amounts are made possible through donations and volunteer activities. It also raises funds from individuals, foundations, and corporations to help spin jobs into careers through learning and guidance. Females who are willing to attend the training facility in order to progress their career in the trucking industry become eligible for the scholarship. The application should accompany a short essay demarcating the career aspirations and the significance of the training in helping meet those goals. The amount is disbursed as a one-time payment after the completion of the training.

Provided by: Women in Trucking Foundation
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: Females with the aspiration to become a truck driver
Deadline: Open in March
Apply Now

3. SAGE Truck Driving School Scholarships

Several scholarship options are put forth by Howes (America’s leading provider of diesel engine fuel additives) to those students who are attending chosen SAGE Truck Driving Schools. Howes supports America’s truckers throughout the nation. They are known for the help they have been giving truckers to secure their future. Every month the scholarship is presented to those qualified and eligible students at specific SAGE schools. The deserving candidates should have a considerable financial requirement and an urge to stand out in trucking as a career with adequate conditions and credentials. They should also agree to work as a driver in the trucking industry. The recipients have to complete the training program and obtain a CDL before accepting the job as a driver. SAGE selects the winners based on qualifications, interviews, and other factors. The amount is paid directly to the SAGE school and used for the reduction in tuition fees.

Provided by: Sage Truck Driving Schools
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: varies
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

4. Truckload Carriers Association Awards Scholarships

The students who are involved with the truckload industry are considered for the scholarships by TCA Scholarship Fund. A full-time undergraduate college student is funded every year, and the current year’s application will be open in Spring 2022. The support from the program is associated with truckload families, companies, and individuals devoted to the future of the community. The TCA Scholarship Fund has combined with Scholarship Management Resources (SMR) the current year. The student should be of strong academic position with an average GPA of 3.0 and be attending an accredited four-year college or university as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. It can also be a child, grandchild, or spouse of an employee or an employee of a TCA member or of an independent contractor or an independent contractor affiliated with a TCA member. The amount of the scholarship would be disbursed every semester and covers the tuition purpose alone. Along with other requirements, they have to maintain good character and reliability. No distinction is shown with regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability, or genetic information.

Provided by: Truckload Carriers Association
Amount: $2,725 to $6,250
Eligibility: undergraduate
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

5. Veterans Scholarship by Mississippi Truck Driving School

As the name indicates, the scholarship is offered support to veterans to help the students financially. The students are provided with the finest education and hands-on training at a reasonable cost. Veterans are helped out to commence into established earnings and vocation. To qualify for this Veterans Scholarship, Honorable or Medical discharge papers have to be presented.

Provided by: Mississippi Truck Driving School
Amount: $250
Eligibility: varies
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

6. Blue Ribbon Grant

The American National University comes up with providing grants towards the cost of education on behalf of a qualified individual by the Veterans Administration under Chapter 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606, Military Tuition Assistance or State National Guard. The Blue Ribbon Grant is designed to identify and aid veterans, active-duty military personnel, spouse, and dependents by giving additional grant funds once the benefits to support the individual to enhance their educational benefits are exhausted. The amount is put to use to broaden or include their programs of study or support a present spouse or qualified dependent at American National University. The accumulated grant amount is used to fulfill the tuition and fees at American National University for any academic program or degree level. The funds may be used within 10 years from the last day of the term the Blue Ribbon Grant was paid. The students preparing to apply ought to have a valid Driver’s License, High School Diploma or GED, Pass DOT physical, and drug screen.

Provided by: American National University
Amount: $18,000
Eligibility: degree level
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

7. Segal Education Award

In order to get eligibility for earning Segal Education Award, you have to be a member of the federal AmeriCorps program once the service year is completed. The award is pushed towards those who are planning to continue their education or to pay off existing, qualified student loans. The Segal Education Award can be used till seven years after finishing service to admit and use the award to pay off the student loans, future study, and even education-focused travel overseas. Every year, more than $3 million dollars are presented in scholarships in an extensive array of programs, including education, public policy, social work, business, and public health.

Provided by: City Year
Amount: $6,345
Eligibility: Graduate and undergraduate
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

8. Truck Driver Training Scholarship

The students who intend to obtain a CDL-A license through the College of Lake County are considered for funding through Truck Driver training scholarships. About 25 students are considered for the same. In order to apply for the scholarship, one has to attend a virtual information session, on-site tour of the training facility, complete scholarship application, qualified applicants will be invited to interview, and a thank you to the donor note from the selected students along with attending an info session. The student has to be 21 years of age or older, residing in Lake County, Illinois, and a US citizen or permanent resident with a valid Illinois Driver’s License, Class D or above. There shouldn’t be any physical disability that may interfere with the driving capability. They should also have sufficient authority over the English language to finish written and demonstration exams, which are conducted in English.

Provided by: College of Lake County
Amount: varies
Eligibility: varies
Deadline: varies
Apply Now

9. Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA) Scholarship

Truck driving and truck technician students are considered for scholarships which are disbursed by MTA. About $26,867 is put towards the scholarship amount. It is mainly aimed at the students who are forced to drop out from educational programs due to economic crises. Minnesota is going to face the issues of scarcity of truck drivers by the year 2022, so the award is intended to bring up students to get interested in a trucking-related career and to introduce the finest talent to the Minnesota trucking industry. The Foundation is actively searching for energetic contemporary approaches for attracting people to truck driving and diesel tech jobs in Minnesota.

Provided by: Minnesota Trucking Association
Amount: varies
Eligibility: varies
Deadline: open in early 2022
Apply Now

10. Driver Education Initiative Annual Scholarship

The 2022 scholarship opportunity is offered by the National Driving and Traffic School named ‘In the Driver’s Seat.’ The applicants that provide the appropriate essay are rewarded with an amount that can be used by the students to enter college or used for previously enrolled ones in a higher education institution. The topic of the essay implied the current year mainly aims at the implications of being a driver. Applicants must be presently enrolled in High School, University, or College. National Driving and Traffic School employees and relatives of the same are considered ineligible.

Provided by: Driver Education Initiative
Amount: $3000
Eligibility: Enrolled in either High School, University, or College
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Apply Now