Kenworth, FASTPORT, TCA introducing trucking to veterans at military job fairs

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Updated Aug 26, 2015
U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., listen to Bill McLennan, CEO of FASTPORT, as he explains the truck giveaway to help recognize military veterans who enter trucking as drivers. Through Hiring Our Heroes and FASTPORT’s Trucking Track Mentoring Program – Kenworth will give away a fully-loaded 2016 T680 with a PACCAR MX-13 engine to “America’s Top Veteran Rookie Driver.” Criteria for the contest will be announced soon by TCA.U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., listen to Bill McLennan, CEO of FASTPORT, as he explains the truck giveaway to help recognize military veterans who enter trucking as drivers. Through Hiring Our Heroes and FASTPORT’s Trucking Track Mentoring Program – Kenworth will give away a fully-loaded 2016 T680 with a PACCAR MX-13 engine to “America’s Top Veteran Rookie Driver.” Criteria for the contest will be announced soon by TCA.

In an effort to curb the driver shortage and to create immediate jobs for military personnel transitioning to civilian life, Kenworth, FASTPORT and the Truckload Carriers Association are attending job fairs on military bases across the country.

As part of the program, FASTPORT and its trucking track partners will attend job fairs on military bases through the rest of 2015 and in 2016. Fort Benning held the first fair on Aug. 17, and it was dedicated solely to the trucking industry.

Twenty-seven employers attended the event with more than 1,000 available driving jobs offered. Panel discussions were held to educate prospective drivers on what to expect in the industry. The fair gave soldiers the chance to explore trucking equipment including tractors, trailers, a mobile mechanic shop and a truck-driving simulator.

Kenworth announced at the Fort Benning job fair it would be giving away at 2016 Kenworth T680 with a Paccar MX-13 to “America’s Top Veteran Rookie Driver” through Hiring Our heroes and FASTPORT’s Trucking Track Mentoring Program. Criteria for the contest will be announced later by TCA.

According to Bill McLennan, CEO of FASTPORT, an estimated 15,000 veterans transition into civilian life each month.

“They are hard-wired for success in trucking,” McLennan said. “They already work for the largest, most complex supply chain and logistic company – our military. Veterans are mission oriented, understand the value of training, are used to working in changing environments, know how to lead and make decisions, and they do this with a focus on safety. All these capabilities are why veterans can have a very successful career in the trucking industry.”