The Truck Renting and Leasing Association and members of its Equipment and Technology Advisory Council traveled to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to get a firsthand look at the Department of Labor’s Hire Vets First Committee’s Training Assistance Program.
As the truck renting and leasing industry continues to face a growing national shortage of qualified maintenance technicians, TRALA and its member companies have teamed up with President Bush’s National Hire Veterans Committee. The commission was established under the 2002 Jobs for Veterans Act to offer more training, skills and job opportunities to military veterans.
“The military is providing men and women with top-notch skill training and experience,” says Peter Vroom, TRALA president and chief executive officer. “Our industry wants to put these highly trained veterans to work after they have finished their military service to our country. These are respected positions that pay well and can provide great careers.”
The visit to Aberdeen allowed senior maintenance executives to observe Department of Defense transition training — including a briefing on wheel vehicle mechanic training and certification programs — and witness an Advance Individual Training in progress. ETAC was represented on the visit by Jim Russo of AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources, Ken McKibben of Penske Truck Leasing, Jim Salas and Ty Cross of Ryder System, Andy Stopka of NationaLease and Don Porthan of Paccar Leasing.
TRALA also participates in the HireVetsFirst initiative, an Internet portal for employers to find veterans. The site provides employment resource information, nationwide job fair listings, local community career centers that provide employment assistance to employers, and access to links for America’s Job Bank and an electronic job search engine. More information on the campaign is available at www.hirevetsfirst.gov.
