Kenworth Donates T680 76-inch Sleeper For “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” Award
To Recognize Top Rookie Veteran Serving as Commercial Truck Driver
The search continues as Kenworth, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program and FASTPORT work together to find America’s top rookie military veteran who has made the transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet.
Kenworth will provide the Kenworth T680 76-inch sleeper model, shown here, as the recognition award to the top rookie military veteran who has made the transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet.
The recognition program, called “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence,” will provide a fully-loaded Kenworth T680 76-inch sleeper with a PACCAR MX-13 engine to the top rookie, as determined by an expert panel of judges. To be considered, drivers must have been either active military or a member of the National Guard or Reserve.
From left, are Jeffrey Ossman, recruiter for the Washington National Guard in Seattle, and Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director, with the Kenworth T680 outside the Seattle Hiring Expo held at Safeco Field.
Drivers need to be nominated by a trucking company that has made a hiring commitment and pledge to hire veterans on www.truckingtrack.org or, by a National Association of Publically Funded Truck Driving Schools (NAPFTDS) or Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA)-member school. Nominations will be accepted until June 30, 2016. Full criteria and online nomination forms can be found at: www.transitiontrucking.org.
Jason Skoog, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing, talks at Safeco Field in Seattle about Kenworth’s support for military veterans in their job search efforts through the company’s participation with FASTPORT and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in the Hiring Our Heroes program.
“Providing a Kenworth T680 with PACCAR MX-13 engine to our country’s top military rookie driver will give him or her a kick-start in becoming an entrepreneur,” said Jason Skoog, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “It’s Kenworth’s way of saying thank you for your service in the military, and thank you for deciding on a new career in trucking. We encourage all fleets to nominate their best drivers who have served to protect our country.”
According to Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president, to be considered a “rookie” and eligible in the contest, drivers will have had to start their driving career Jan 1, 2015 through to the end of the contest.
From left, Brad Bentley, president of FASTPORT; and Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director; are shown with the Kenworth T680 76-inch sleeper model that will be awarded to the top rookie military veteran who has made the transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. Kenworth is partnering with U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program and FASTPORT on the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” program.
“There are great careers in trucking, and we are honored to stand with Kenworth and Hiring Our Heroes to give the industry a platform to recognize exceptional military Veterans who have transitioned into professional driving roles,” said Bentley. “As trucking employers continue to be first-responders in Veteran employment and educate our military on the real economic opportunities these careers provide, I believe we will inspire even more service members to consider careers as professional drivers.”
Above: Two visitors to Kenworth's booth look over information in the Kenworth T680 brochure with Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director, during the Seattle Hiring Expo. Below: Some of the large crowd of military veterans and current personnel in attendance at the Expo event at Safeco Field.
While the nomination cut-off is the end of June, the Transition into Trucking program will continue through the end of the year, with hiring fairs slated at military bases, truck industry events, and at venues close to military bases. The Kenworth T680 will be on display to inform and inspire those looking at trucking as a possible career.
From left, are Jason Skoog, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing; Thomas Dawkins, Microsoft senior business manager of military and veteran education for military affairs, Chuck Hodges, senior director of events programs for Hiring Our Heroes at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation; Sean Kelley, Amazon talent acquisition leader for North America operations and customer service; and retired Army Major General Jimmy Collins. Kenworth, Microsoft and Amazon were key supporters of the Seattle Hiring Expo along with the Seattle Mariners.
Kenworth is the driver’s truck. See what drivers are saying at www.kenworth.com/drivers.
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth is a PACCAR company.
NOTE: Kenworth participated in the Seattle Hiring Expo sponsored by the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on Wednesday, May 25, and conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program. Key supporters of Wednesday’s event included leading Seattle area companies Kenworth, Microsoft and Amazon.
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