To increase the momentum of military Veteran training in the trucking industry, FASTPORT has joined ranks with the Commercial Vehicle Driver Association (CVTA) and spoke at the association’s spring conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Collectively and individually, the CVTA’ s membership is to “raise the bar” within the trucking industry, and increasing the Veteran population in CDL training academies is an important step toward achieving that goal.

CVTA member schools train about 50,000 drivers per year, many of whom are Veterans. In these classes, Veterans have shown to be some of the most talented and dedicated graduates. CVTA is the largest trade association representing the interests of truck driving schools, students and the businesses that depend on their services.

Working with members and partners on critical industry issues, CVTA is helping shape the future of safer transportation. FASTPORT is honored to participate in the networking event to address another way for the industry to access military Veterans who are hard-wired to succeed in professional driving roles.

“FASTPORT is thrilled to participate in the CVTA’s Spring Conference because our work together will connect more talented student drivers with employers who are ready and eager to hire them onto their teams after graduation,” said FASTPORT President Brad Bentley. “Our mutual goal is to raise the standard for training for professional drivers and to help those exceptional drivers find gainful employment.”

“Events like this are essential to push this important work forward as we receive input and support from leading training institutions,” Bentley concluded.

Throughout the conference, the CVTA’s united membership worked to examine the current state of CDL training and discuss how it can continue to be improved for future student drivers. The important collaboration allowed each member school and the association’s leadership to offer ideas on how to ensure that America’s highways and roadways are in the hands of the safest professional drivers possible.

Since military Veterans have a proven track record of being some of the safest drivers in the industry, FASTPORT has partnered with Kenworth and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes Program to donate a Kenworth T680 truck to a deserving Veteran in the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award.

Bentley encouraged schools and carriers attending the conference to nominate a Veteran who has become an outstanding driver for the program, as this will 1) award his or her incredible work in the industry, 2) help recognize Veteran impact on the industry, and 3) inspire more military service members to consider careers in the trucking industry.

In addition to Bentley, speakers at the CVTA conference included:

• Bill Livingood – Keynote Speaker
  • Former Sergeant at Arms (36th), United States House of Representatives
• Bob Costello
  • Chief Economist & Vice President, American Trucking Associations (ATA)
• Dave Osiecki
  • Executive Vice President and Chief of National Advocacy, American Trucking Associations (ATA)
• Drew Daly
  • Managing Director, Omnitracs Analytics
• Dr. Ron Knipling
  • President, Safety for the Long Haul Inc.
• Kevin R. Lewis
  • Director, Driver Programs, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
• Donald E. Hudson II, Esq.
  • In-House Counsel, Career Path Training Corp.
• Brittany J. Sakata
  • Partner, Roth Doner Jackson, PLC.

Professional drivers keep America moving, and events  like the CVTA conference enable CDL  training academies to maintain the best education possible for our student drivers, particularly those students with military experience.

To nominate a Veteran for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award, visit transitiontrucking.org. The nomination window is now open.