Navistar International Corp. recently presented a $10,000 check to the American Trucking Associations in support of ATA’s driver recruitment initiative that promotes careers in the trucking industry as an option for returning military personnel.
Navistar launched its Drive for Jobs program late last year in conjunction with the first customer delivery of the International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition and in celebration of Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Through the Drive for Jobs program, owner-operator Chris Hawker, the first to purchase the one-of-a-kind truck, began his journey from the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee to his regular work route from Westfield, N.Y., to Jacksonville, Fla. As part of Navistar’s Drive for Jobs program, for each mile that Hawker drove in his new truck during the month of November, Navistar made a donation to ATA’s recruitment campaign. In addition, those who spotted were encouraged to support the cause by signing up at www.internationaltrucks.com.
“We’re proud to support the ATA’s driver recruitment effort,” says Jim Hebe, senior vice president of North American sales operations for Navistar. “Through this initiative, the ATA is taking a proactive step to address the challenges that will face the trucking industry in the years to come.”
Navistar supported ATA’s GetTrucking.com initiative in 2008 with a $15,000 donation generated by proceeds from DVD sales of “Drive and Deliver,” the documentary Navistar developed to celebrate the lives of truck drivers and the contributions they make to society.
“We appreciate Navistar’s support for ATA’s initiative to promote truck driving as a career option,” says Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “The men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces are ideal candidates to become trucking industry professionals — they have all the motivation and tools necessary to move successfully from the military into our industry.”
