One of the country’s leading trucking organizations says it will help its members hire 50,000 veterans and military spouses in the next four years.
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced the commitment on behalf of its 700 member companies, and says it is working to secure hiring pledges for all 50,000 jobs during the first quarter of 2015, and to achieve 100 percent placement in those positions before the end of 2018.
“Operation Heroes To Highways” will help resolve one of the largest challenges facing America — veteran unemployment — while addressing the trucking industry’s ongoing need for new drivers and mechanics. In the statement announcing the recruitment effort, TCA says more than 700,000 veterans are unemployed, and about one million more will transition out of the military in the next five years. The truckload industry is uniquely positioned to support former military service personnel with the highest number of best-paying, entry-level jobs of any industry, according to the TCA.
“We are honored to partner with Hiring Our Heroes and FASTPORT to help our veterans find great new careers as drivers, mechanics, and leaders in the truckload industry,” said TCA President Brad Bentley. “Our member companies have immediate opportunities for veterans and transitioning service personnel in nearly every hometown across America.”
“Our regional carriers provide frequent home time for veterans who want to stay close to their families, while long-haul carriers offer the chance to see the open road,” said Bentley. “Through postings on the Hiring Our Heroes Trucking Track, veterans can easily find a career wherever they want to live and work upon their return from service.”
All participants will be recognized on the Heroes To Highways online Wall of Valor, where progress toward meeting the goal of 50,000 veterans hired can also be tracked.
TCA is commissioning a commemorative series of Heroes To Highways “Challenge Coins.” All participants making a veteran hiring pledge will receive the inaugural coin in the series. Additional coins will be presented to those who meet or exceed their hiring commitment.
“Having the Truckload Carriers Association make such a substantial hiring commitment demonstrates leadership and the willingness to employ veterans across the entire truckload industry,” said Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “TCA members committing to hire through the Hiring Our Heroes Trucking Track provide our veterans a single location to find the trucking industry job that best meets their needs.”
“It is very gratifying to see the TCA leadership and member companies committing to hiring our veterans,” said Bill McLennan, CEO of FASTPORT. “The truckload industry has a tremendous capacity to employ veterans and transitioning service personnel in great careers immediately, and for the next decade.”
Supporting this hiring initiative continues TCA’s tradition of honoring America’s veterans. In addition to Operation Heroes To Highways, the TCA “Truckload of Respect” program delivered more than 700,000 holiday remembrance wreaths for placement on veterans’ gravesites across the country in 2014. TCA also handles logistics for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Mobile Education Center.
