The 2024 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award has unveiled its exciting roster of semi-finalists, recognizing the achievements of military veterans entering the trucking industry. According to Kyle Kimball, the marketing director at Kenworth, “This year’s semi-finalists for the ‘Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award’ are shining examples of military veterans who have successfully moved into the trucking industry.” He added, “Kenworth is honored to mark our ninth year of participation in the program with FASTPORT and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative. I look forward to meeting all the esteemed semi-finalists this fall and presenting the T680 keys to a deserving veteran in Washington, D.C. at the end of the year.”
Since its inception in 2016, this award has been a beacon of hope for veterans transitioning into transportation careers, showcasing semi-finalists from various military branches including the National Guard and Reserve. The following veterans have emerged as this year’s semi-finalists:
- Jadarion Blakemore, U.S. Army (E-5) – CRST – The Transportation Solution Inc. (Trained by Troops Into Transportation)
- Quantae Dozier, U.S. Army (E-4) – Epes Transport System, LLC (Trained by Troops Into Transportation)
- Richard Flirt III, U.S. Navy (E-4) – Legacy Express (Trained by Fox Valley Technical College)
- Brian Ferguson, U.S. Army and U.S. Army National Guard (E-7) – Melton Truck Lines (Trained by Troops Into Transportation)
- Justin Sisler, U.S. Marine Corps (E-2) – Prime Inc. (Trained by Roadmaster Drivers School)
- Douglas Couch, U.S. Navy (E-5) – Roehl Transport, Inc.
- Mark Joseph, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army National Guard (O-3) – Stevens Transport (Trained by Troops Into Transportation)
- Cory Troxwell, U.S. Army (E-7) – Stevens Transport (Trained by Phoenix Truck Driving Institute)
- Shawn Haley, U.S. Marine Corps (E-4) – Veriha Trucking LLC (Truck Driver Institute)
- William Taylor, U.S. Coast Guard (E-7) – Werner Enterprises (Trained by Roadmaster Drivers School)
The grand prize is a state-of-the-art Kenworth T680 truck featuring a 76-inch sleeper, equipped with the PACCAR Powertrain which includes the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 horsepower, the PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. This exceptional truck model showcases a Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents, along with fully heated and cooled GT703 leather seats, microwave and TV space, a factory-installed fridge, a rotating worktable, and advanced driver assistance systems such as Kenworth’s Digital Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering.
“The Transition Trucking award campaign highlights 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,” affirmed Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes and vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
This ninth annual award program includes a ceremony for semi-finalists at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, set for September 25th. Attendees will tour the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing facility the following day, where finalists will also be announced.
“We are immensely proud to recognize this diverse group in the program’s history, including a large number of drivers in Registered Apprenticeship Programs,” indicated Brad Bentley, president of FASTPORT, Inc. “These remarkable drivers assure us that the future of this industry is in excellent hands, and we look forward to saluting the heroes who navigate the highways of opportunity that trucking offers.”
Finalists and the ultimate award winner will partake in a special week of veteran-focused events scheduled for December 11-14. This week will feature the Veteran-Ready Summit, the Transition Trucking Award announcement on December 13th, the ESGR Statement of Support Signing Ceremony, and participation in Wreaths Across America on December 14th.
Public voting for the award will be open online from November 1st through Veteran’s Day, serving as a crucial component in the award’s Selection Committee deliberation for the upcoming Transition Trucking award recipient.
For more information, visit the Transition Trucking website.
Source: The Trucker
