Eric Eversole, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes, emphasized the leadership veterans bring to trucking:
“Veterans bring mission focus, adaptability, and leadership to every role they take on, including careers behind the wheel. These finalists show how military experience translates into excellence in the trucking industry, and we’re proud to honor their service and celebrate the vital role veterans play in keeping America moving.”

The program is a joint effort by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes, Kenworth Truck Company, and Fastport. Each year, the initiative recognizes rookie veteran truck drivers who exemplify professionalism, safety, and service. After nominations, review, and the announcement of four finalists, the final step will be a nationwide public vote.

Celebrating Veterans in Trucking

Twelve semi-finalists were recently honored at a reception hosted at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio. The following day, finalists were revealed during an event at Kenworth’s Chillicothe manufacturing facility. Attendees enjoyed live broadcasts with Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler of Road Gang Radio, along with exclusive plant tours offering a behind-the-scenes look at Kenworth’s flagship production site.

Meet the 2025 Finalists

Nicholas Baughan, Werner Enterprises
Baughan, from Nunica, Michigan, has served in the U.S. Army since 2004 and continues in the Army Reserve until his upcoming retirement in 2026. His career began in military police before moving into infantry. He has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning several commendations, including the Purple Heart. His military journey has taken him across Europe and South Korea, holding leadership roles from team leader to senior intelligence sergeant.

Charles Jones Jr., Roehl Transport
Sergeant First Class Charles C. Jones Jr. (Ret.) entered the Army through the Delayed Entry Program after high school in 2004. Over his 20-year service, he worked as an unmanned aircraft systems operator, instructor, standards operator, and platoon sergeant. His career included three combat tours in Iraq and two assignments in South Korea. After graduating from Georgia Driving Academy in late 2024, Jones began his civilian driving career with Roehl Transport in 2025. He and his wife, Katrina, raise two children, Alvin and Monica.

Macy Mattice, Melton Truck Lines
From 2010 to 2018, Mattice served in the Army as an 88M motor transport operator, specializing in moving heavy equipment. Today, she drives a flatbed for Melton Truck Lines, bringing the discipline of her service years into her trucking career. Originally from Winter Springs, Florida, she now lives near Jacksonville with her son, Rusty. Known for her adventurous spirit, she enjoys animals, travel, and taking on new challenges.

Mark Scriven, Stevens Transport
Scriven, a former Army staff sergeant, spent nine years as a patriot missile operator and maintainer. His service earned him multiple achievement medals, along with recognition as a combat lifesaver. Now, he applies his leadership skills and discipline as both a driver and trainer with Stevens Transport. A father of three, he welcomed a newborn daughter this past August.

The Prize Package

Kenworth will once again provide the grand prize truck for the program’s winner—a tradition that has lasted ten consecutive years. This year, the champion will be handed the keys to a brand-new Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and PACCAR Powertrain, featuring the MX-13 engine, TX-12 automated transmission, and DX-40 tandem rear axles.

Kyle Kimball, director of marketing for Kenworth, shared the company’s pride in supporting the program:
“Kenworth is proud to partner with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for the tenth year to honor and recognize the distinguished semi-finalist drivers who exemplify excellence behind the wheel. Celebrating the accomplishments of this elite group is a special honor each year, and we look forward to awarding the keys to the grand prize Kenworth T680 truck to this year’s winner in Washington, D.C.”

The T680 comes with Kenworth’s Diamond VIT interior in slate gray and madrona trim, Ultraleather heated and cooled seating, a rotating worktable, a factory-installed refrigerator, and space for a microwave and TV. The truck also boasts cutting-edge safety features, including Kenworth’s DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with torque-assisted steering.

Beyond the grand prize, all finalists will be recognized. The runner-up will receive $10,000, while the two remaining finalists will take home $5,000 each.

Brad Bentley, president of Fastport, underscored the significance of these drivers:
“Our four finalists represent three military branches and continue to serve their country in a critical industry. Each of them is also committed to delivering loads on time for veteran-ready employers and sharing the roads safely with the motoring public.”

What Comes Next

Public voting for the 2025 Transition Trucking Award opens November 1 and will continue through Veterans Day on November 11. The winner will be revealed during a December 12 ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This program continues to spotlight how military skills translate into trucking excellence, offering veterans meaningful second careers while ensuring the industry benefits from their leadership and commitment.

Image Source: Kenworth
Source: The Trucker

The post Finalists Named for 2025 Transition Trucking Driving for Excellence Award appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The U.S. trucking industry is still short around 60,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Association. For Badilla, that shortage became an open door.

“I have an opportunity to do something positive for my life,” he told CBS News. “It feels great to be free.”

Freedom has a deeper meaning for Badilla. After spending nearly nine years in federal prison on drug charges, his return to society came with a new battle: finding a job.

“When you come out of prison, you feel like all the doors are locked,” he said. “Nobody wants to give you a job.”

That reality isn’t unique. Roughly 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals are still unemployed four years after release, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 70% return to prison, based on data from the Department of Justice. The cycle of recidivism is hard to break without meaningful work and opportunity.

Badilla’s turning point came through a unique CDL training initiative—The Commercial Driver’s License Workforce Development Program. It’s a partnership between New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Emerge Career, a tech-driven education company focused on helping low-risk, formerly incarcerated people find jobs in trucking.

The program equips participants with the skills to earn their CDL and connects them with motor carriers across the country. It’s not just about finding a job—it’s about creating a sustainable career path in a field that desperately needs skilled, committed drivers.

“When you put more barriers in somebody’s pathway, they don’t see a way to actually make an honest living and that doesn’t benefit them, but it also really doesn’t benefit society,” said Deanna Logan, director of the Mayor’s Office for Criminal Justice. “They paid their debt to society and now they need to come back.”

Logan emphasized that trucking stood out as both practical and profitable for those re-entering the workforce.

“We looked at what was lucrative and accessible to people who are coming back from incarceration,” she said. “We don’t have enough people who are skilled, and it’s a very skilled profession… It gave [the formerly incarcerated] a really big opportunity to be part of the communities that they knew they did harm to.”

While some taxpayers may be skeptical about the program’s funding, Logan made a clear point.

“If I have you incarcerated on Rikers, I have to pay for [the] facility, the officers, the food,” she said. “Whereas, when I take a person and give them opportunity, they pay taxes. So now, we as a society are getting taxpayer revenue from a person that is not in a box on a shelf.”

Emerge Career co-founder Uzoma “Zo” Orchingwa sees it as a matter of equity and belief in human potential.

“Our people are just looking for someone that believes in them and someone that can give them a legit chance,” Orchingwa said. “These are people that — for the most part — have not had a fair shot for being able to be successful and contributing citizens. They just need that one opportunity that’s going to support them.”

And the program is showing real results. In the 2024 fiscal year, 94% of enrollees graduated, with all of them receiving job offers averaging $75,000 per year. So far, 260 individuals have completed the program—and every one of them is a step closer to a stable, meaningful career behind the wheel.

“When folks are getting access to job opportunities and income, they’re going to stay out of prison,” said Orchingwa. The program isn’t just about training drivers. It’s about building a future.

For Badilla, it means having the freedom to chart his own course.

“A bird is free,” he said.

Source: CBS News

The post From Prison to the Open Road: How One CDL Program Is Rebuilding Lives and Filling Driver Seats appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The Transition Trucking award, made possible through a collaboration between Fastport, Kenworth, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, honors military veterans who have taken the important step of transitioning into careers within the trucking industry.

Brad Bentley, Fastport president, highlighted the significance of the program, stating, “The transportation industry not only embraces a veteran-ready ethos but actively integrates the invaluable skills and experiences our service members bring. We are thrilled to return to the Mid-America Trucking Show with this year’s Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence grand prize – the Kenworth T680, a symbol of innovation and opportunity. Participating in the largest gathering of heavy-duty trucking professionals offers an unparalleled platform to honor our veterans and inspire new talent from the military community to join our ranks.”

Nominations Are Now Open

Nominations for this year’s Transition Trucking award are officially open. The deadline for submitting applications is set for June 20, providing nominators with several months to recognize exceptional veteran drivers who embody excellence in the industry.

Kyle Kimball, Kenworth’s director of marketing, expressed Kenworth’s dedication, saying, “Kenworth is honored to participate in this life-changing initiative for the tenth consecutive year, and we look forward to awarding our flagship T680 to a deserving military veteran at the end of this year.”

More Than Just the Grand Prize

While the spotlight shines on the T680 grand prize, finalists for the award will also receive significant rewards. Last year, the second-place finisher received $10,000, and the two other finalists each received $5,000.

Public Voting and Award Announcement

The public can play a role in November by voting for their favorite finalist. Afterward, a panel of judges will evaluate the candidates according to the official Transition Trucking award guidelines. The grand-prize winner will be revealed on December 12 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Honoring Veterans in Transportation

“The transportation industry is a natural fit for veterans looking to continue a purpose-driven career that leverages the critical skill sets, specialized training, and leadership gained during military service – all highly coveted attributes that make them a strategic asset,” said Eric Eversole, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes. “Hiring Our Heroes is proud to partner with Fastport and Kenworth for the tenth year to help service members successfully transition into the commercial trucking industry.”

Source: Land Line

The post Kenworth Celebrates a Decade of Donating Grand Prize for Transition Trucking Award appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

For the ninth consecutive year, Kenworth will provide the grand prize in the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” program. This year’s prize is a T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the advanced Paccar Powertrain, featuring the powerful Paccar MX-13 engine rated at 455 horsepower, Paccar TX-12 automated transmission, and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles.

The showcased truck will be on display this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky, hosted at the Fastport booth #65024. The T680 boasts a luxurious Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents, incorporating cutting-edge driver amenities. Featuring GT703 leather seats that are fully heated and cooled for both driver and passenger comfort, the 76-inch sleeper includes provisions for a microwave, TV, factory-installed fridge, and a convenient rotating worktable.

Moreover, the T680 is equipped with state-of-the-art 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.

A panel of expert judges will select the top driver. To be eligible, drivers must meet specific criteria including:

• Being a legal resident of the continental United States and a military veteran or current/former member of the National Guard or Reserves
• Graduating from a PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS, or CVTA member driver training school with a valid CDL
• Being employed by a for-hire carrier or private fleet committed to hiring veterans and hired as a CDL driver after Jan. 1, 2023

The nomination period is currently open, with the final deadline for applications set for June 20. Award semi-finalists will be announced on Aug. 1. Finalists will have the opportunity to visit Columbus, Ohio, for a tour of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, followed by a reception and a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant, where the ultimate winner will be revealed. Public voting on the finalists will take place from Nov. 1-11. On Dec. 13, finalists will convene at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where the final award announcement will be made, and the winner will drive home in the Kenworth T680.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

Photo: Kenworth

The post Kenworth Truck Set as Prize for Transition Trucking Program; Nominations Open Now appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.