In celebration of Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day, we’re highlighting U.S. military veterans who work in trucking all throughout the month of May. Did you know that according to the U.S. Census, an estimated 10 percent of all truckers are military veterans? It’s true! We recently had the opportunity to speak with John DeCillo, a lease operator based out of Jacksonville, Fla., about his military service and career in trucking. John was in the Air Force for 13 years as a machinist and certified welder, experience which in part has helped him create a successful career in the trucking industry. When we spoke with John, he credited the self-discipline and mechanical aptitude he developed in the military as keys to his ability to do well as an owner operator.
Read on to learn more about John and his path to trucking from the military.
John’s Journey from the U.S. Air Force to Flatbedding
John joined the military directly after high school and spent over a decade in the Air Force. After the military, John spent most of his life working in manufacturing, sales, railroad and management while also earning an associate degree and an MBA. When the pandemic hit in 2020, John lost his job and decided to finally fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming an over the road trucker. He earned his CDL in the autumn of 2020 and signed on with TMC Transportation, where he began hauling flatbed freight. These days, John is a lease owner operator with PGT Trucking. He spends most of his time moving steel pipes, coils, natural gas pipeline and construction materials.
“There was only one way for me and that was flatbed,” John said. “I know this sounds weird, but the trucks look cool to me so that was part of the decision. I don’t know if that’s rational or not as a guy who is 50 years old and has had three knee surgeries and a hip surgery, but I wanted to go be a flatbed guy. Also, I didn’t want to just open doors and bump docks. That just did not appeal to me. Most of last winter I played around in Gary, Ind., Philly and Cleveland dealing with cold weather, tarps and bungee cord. Not many people sign up to do that, but the money is going to be where people don’t want to do the work. Because of that attitude and the way I present myself, I’m getting offered premium loads all the time from agents from PGT because they know me and they know my truck.”
“There was only one way for me and that was flatbed,” John said. “I know this sounds weird, but the trucks look cool to me so that was part of the decision. I don’t know if that’s rational or not as a guy who is 50 years old and has had three knee surgeries and a hip surgery, but I wanted to go be a flatbed guy. Also, I didn’t want to just open doors and bump docks. That just did not appeal to me. Most of last winter I played around in Gary, Ind., Philly and Cleveland dealing with cold weather, tarps and bungee cord. Not many people sign up to do that, but the money is going to be where people don’t want to do the work. Because of that attitude and the way I present myself, I’m getting offered premium loads all the time from agents from PGT because they know me and they know my truck.”
Trucking: A Natural Fit for Military Vets
There are an estimated 18 million veterans in the United States and one in four vets are truckers. Many trucking and logistics companies want to hire veterans for the skills and discipline they hone while serving the country.
“I think part of why so many vets are in trucking is you don’t have to tell me to get out of bed and go to work, for one thing,” John said. “You learn self-discipline in the military. With all of the independent owner operators you have out here, you have to be a little bit disciplined. If you’re not, you’re probably going to get yourself in trouble out here. I say I’m a 10 hour, one minute driver. After my 10 hour break is up, I’m moving the truck. We’re going. I don’t just sleep until eight o’clock because it’s convenient. So you’ve got to manage the clock and it takes a little discipline to climb out of bed at two in the morning. Sometimes the quiet is good, too. Nobody’s bothering me and I get to see the country that I served. I mean, we live in a beautiful country. We really do. I had no idea our country is as pretty as it is until I started driving. It’s amazing.”
“I think part of why so many vets are in trucking is you don’t have to tell me to get out of bed and go to work, for one thing,” John said. “You learn self-discipline in the military. With all of the independent owner operators you have out here, you have to be a little bit disciplined. If you’re not, you’re probably going to get yourself in trouble out here. I say I’m a 10 hour, one minute driver. After my 10 hour break is up, I’m moving the truck. We’re going. I don’t just sleep until eight o’clock because it’s convenient. So you’ve got to manage the clock and it takes a little discipline to climb out of bed at two in the morning. Sometimes the quiet is good, too. Nobody’s bothering me and I get to see the country that I served. I mean, we live in a beautiful country. We really do. I had no idea our country is as pretty as it is until I started driving. It’s amazing.”
Attention To Detail and Pride
John also said that there’s crossover from the mechanical aptitude he gained in the U.S. Air Force and the mechanical skills he needs in trucking.
“In the military, we’re always inspecting our gear,” John shared. “So pre or post-trip truck inspections are kind of a natural thing. It’s kind of a pride thing, constantly cleaning and polishing. That’s how my grandfather was and just kind of how I was with my own cars. Trucking can be a good life. A lot of us service guys are used to being gone a lot. A lot of us were deployed constantly serving in a 20-year war, so being away for a week or so at a time is not a real big deal. The military can lead to bigger and better things.
I think that the military definitely can be a great feeder into trucking.”
According to John, just like in the military if you want to make money, you’ve got to put the time and work in when you’re a trucker. John began leasing his truck with PGT just six months after getting his CDL. His approach was to be willing to do things other people didn’t want to do in order to make money.
“To be honest, sometimes flatbedding stinks,” said John. “There’s no other way to put it. It’s nasty hot and it’s nasty cold. It’s wet. It’s grimy. It’s dirty. You’re going to sweat. You’re going to work, but that’s what I like about it.”
For more of our conversation with John, read “Flatbedder John DeCillo Talks Trucking as a Semi-Retirement Plan. (insert link)”
