Kenworth, FASTPORT and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes initiative are joining together for the sixth consecutive year to discover America’s top rookie military veteran driver, who has made the transition from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to driving for a commercial fleet.
Under the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” recognition program, Kenworth will again provide the top award – a Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PaccarPowertrain featuring the PaccarMX-13 engine, PaccarTX-12 automated transmission, and PaccarDX-40 tandem rear axles.
“Kenworth’s ongoing participation in the Transition Trucking program is one way to recognize the importance of our veterans and thank them for their service. We urge trucking fleets to nominate their best rookie drivers who have served our country and encourage service members transitioning from the military to consider the trucking industry as their future career,” says Laura Bloch, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.
“An estimated 200,000 veterans transition from the military into the private sector each year. FASTPORT’s mission is to educate and inform veterans about career opportunities in the nation’s trucking industry. The ongoing driver shortage makes recruiting from the military more important than ever before. We look forward to awarding a well-deserving veteran with a Kenworth T680 in the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” program this year,” says Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president.
“The trucking industry thrived last year despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, proving its position as a sustainable career pathway,” says Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes. “The 2021 ‘Transition Trucking’ award campaign is another opportunity to highlight the impact veterans are making in the transportation industry and introduce a new generation of veterans to the real economic opportunity a career in trucking can represent.”
The top driver will be determined by an expert panel of judges. To qualify, drivers must meet three eligibility requirements:
- Must have been active military or member of the National Guard or Reserve.
- Graduated from PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS or CVTA member driver training school, with a valid CDL.
- First hired in a trucking position between Jan. 1, 2021, and July 31, 2021.
The nomination window opened June 10 and the final deadline is July 31, 2021. Full criteria and online nomination forms can be found on the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” website (www.transitiontrucking.org).
