Rihm Monthly Magazine - November 2024 - Magazine - Page 20
Finalists Announced for 2024 Transition
Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award
Finalists for the 9th annual “Transition Trucking: Driving for
Excellence” award were recently announced by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes
program, Kenworth Truck Company and Fastport. This
prestigious award honors military veterans who have made
an outstanding transition into the commercial trucking
industry. Through a comprehensive nomination process,
careful review by a selection committee, and a final public
vote, the program will recognize and reward America’s top
rookie military veteran drivers.
Ten semi-finalists were honored last week in Ohio, where
they embarked on stops at the National Veterans Memorial
and Museum in Columbus and the Kenworth Chillicothe
truck manufacturing plant. Highlights of the trip included
a live appearance on Road Dog Trucking Radio’s Dave
Nemo Show with Jimmy Mac, and an exclusive behindthe-scenes tour of Kenworth’s truck building facility.
while being forward deployed. Since transitioning into the
trucking industry, Douglas has driven more than 150,000
miles and has shown a true and relentless dedication to
safety.
Brian Ferguson, U.S. Army and U.S. Army National
Guard (E-7), Melton Truck Lines, Troops Into
Transportation
After serving in the Army for three years, Brian Ferguson
joined the Texas National Guard and served more than
ten years. Brian reenlisted in the Army and served 17 years
until he retired with a combined 31 years of service. Brian
deployed seven times overseas and domestically. Of those
deployments, three were combat deployments. Brian
pursued a truck driving career because he enjoys traveling
and the hard work of flatbed driving.
Shawn Haley, U.S. Marine Corps (E-4), Veriha Trucking
Finalists for 2024 are summarized below in LLC, Truck Driving Institute
alphabetical order by last name:
Shawn Haley served in the Marine Corps from 1987 to
1991. During this time, he served as security for President
Douglas Couch, U.S. Navy (E-5), Roehl Transport, Inc., Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, President George
Roehl Transport Training
H. W. Bush, and First Lady Barbara Bush. Shawn became an
Douglas Couch served in the United States Navy from 2012- entrepreneur who ran a successful business for 20 years.
2016, onboard the USS Nimitz CVN 68. Douglas worked After that time, he pursued a new challenge, becoming a
as a Culinary Specialist 2nd Class. In this role, he oversaw regional truck driver at Veriha where he enjoys seeing our
50 sailors, feeding more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines great country.
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