FASTPORT, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes and Kenworth Trucking today announced that U.S. Navy veteran Troy Davidson, a driver for Werner Enterprises, is the winner of the 2016 “Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence” award. 

Davidson received the keys to a brand new, fully-loaded T680 truck donated by Kenworth, which holds a stamped aluminum cab and integral sleeper. The overall suggested retail price of a new Kenworth T680 is approximately $152,000. 

“Following an impressive military career, Troy’s decision to commit his skills to the trucking industry is commendable, and we want to congratulate him on this award,” said Eric Eversole, President of Hiring our Heroes and a Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  “We are honored to play a part in Troy’s transition from the military to the civilian workforce, and we’re happy to see that the trucking industry continues to play a huge part in helping veterans find meaningful employment following their military service.

The “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” campaign, launched in the spring of 2016, is part of an overall effort to inspire the hiring of more veterans, national guard members, and reservists into the trucking industry. As the main part of the campaign, deserving veteran drivers who had made a successful transition from military service to the trucking industry were able to participate in a chance to win the truck.

“Congratulations to Troy Davidson of Werner Enterprises for his selection as the top military veteran rookie driver,” said Kurt Swihart, marketing director for Kenworth. “We appreciate his service and dedication to our country during his career in the U.S. Navy, and it is an honor to award Troy with this special Kenworth T680 as he enters fully into his next career in the trucking industry.”

Throughout 2016, trucking companies nominated worthy drivers for this campaign, and an independent selection committee that included representatives from motor carriers, driver training schools suppliers, and trade associations chose 10 preliminary finalists from all the eligible nominees. After announcing the top 10 finalists, the selection committee then chose the top three finalists from that preliminary pool. The public had an opportunity to recognize their favorite rookie driver through an online vote at TransitionTrucking.org from September 25 through November 11.

“Each Transition Trucking finalist displayed exceptional success in the trucking industry and tied that achievement in some way back to their military training. This gives us even more evidence that the military hardwires our veterans to excel in trucking, and industry-leading companies are uniting to attract and employ these remarkable candidates,” said Brad Bentley, president of FASTPORT. “A special congratulations to Troy, Russell, and Kevin who have set incredible examples of what veterans can accomplish after they transition from the military into civilian careers.”

“This is a life changing event,” Davidson said as he took the keys. “I’m not going to let anybody down. It’s very humbling, and I am honored to be here today to accept the keys of that pretty truck out there.”

The three finalists in the “Transition Trucking” campaign are:

• Troy Davidson – Werner Enterprises
• Russell Hardy – Trimac Transportation
• Kevin Scott – TMC Transportation

In addition to Kenworth’s generosity in donating the Kenworth T680 to the ultimate award recipient, another sponsors included: 

Briggs & Stratton provided the follow prizes for the 3 finalist:

•  All three finalist will receive 1 portable P2200 PowerSmart Series Inverter Generator each generator each each
• The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a 1700 Max PSI / 1.3 Max GPM Electric Power Washer.

DISH Network provided all 3 winners a Pay as You Go / No Contract Dish mobile satellite bundle. 

Estimated Prize retail value over $5,000.00.

We would like to thank Scout / Warrior and Tailgater Magazine for assisting in this initiative to put this prize pool together.