A rig tricked out in eye-catching murals will always get attention. These do more. They honor all men and women who have served in the military, and the reaction has been overwhelming.
THE TRUCK: HONORED VETERAN
A freightliner Cascadia Evolution, clearly labeled Honored Veteran, has a waving American flag emblazoned across the front of the cab and saluting soldiers on one side, along with decals of each branch of service. C.R. England debuted the Honored Veteran fleet this year, and currently has five trucks in the fleet, with another five being added on Veterans Day.
THE COMPANY: C.R. ENGLAND
Gene and Bill England, sons of the company founder, grew up learning the business. Both served in World War II, and Gene received a Bronze Star Medal. Last year, a good friend of Genes called the company to propose honoring him with a ceremony that recognized all military veterans. That led to the creation of the Honored Veteran trucks and a company commitment to increase the number of military veterans in its driving force. It also gives every driver who has served in the military an Honored Veteran decal, hat and shirt.
Sanger served 13 years in the U.S. Army, including serving in the Gulf War in 1990-91. He was a radio technician, medic and truck driver, and was awarded the Army Drivers Badge for being accident-free during his service. He was one of the first five C.R. England drivers chosen to drive an Honored Veteran truck. In addition to appearing at selected military and recruiting events, he uses the truck for his regular runs.
THE EXPERIENCE
Sanger gets lots of waves and thumbs up signs from others on the road, and of course when its parked, the truck draws a crowd. Its a nice, big, beautiful truck and the way I see it, its my way to pay respect to those of us who werent able to come home, says Sanger. There are a lot of them, and people tend to forget. But when they see this truck, its a reminder that the real heroes are those who paid the ultimate price.
THE TRUCK: OPERATION FREEDOM
THE COMPANY: WERNER ENTERPRISES
The Operation Freedom trucks serve as rolling billboards for the companys program dedicated to helping military veterans transition into civilian work. Military veterans make up about 20 percent of Werners workforce. The trucks show Werners support for all veterans, says Jim Morbach, director of government and field recruiting. Thats why they are working trucks. We want them on the road so that people all over the U.S. can see them.
THE DRIVER: IMMANUEL ODONGKARA
After 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft mechanic, working on helicopters and fighter planes, Odongkara continued to work on base after retiring. Then he made the decision to try a second career in trucking. It was a successful one. His first year, he was a top 10 finalist for the Mike OConnell Memorial Trucking Rookie of the Year award in 2013, and Werner chose him to drive Freedom 3 this year.
THE EXPERIENCE
The reaction is amazing, says Odongkara. Im honored every day that I wake up and I get to see the truck that I drive. Im honored every day I get to talk to people about the truck and how I got to this position. If you are a military veteran, you know the struggles and hard times that are part of it. If youve had to go on deployment, you are away from family in places that are not fun. The truck is a big tribute to those men and women in the military.
THE TRUCK: PATRIOT FLEET
THE COMPANY: CRETE CARRIER
Duane Acklie, chairman, was in the service and has a history of supporting the Wounded Warrior Project and other organizations devoted to military veterans. The company has a number of programs for veterans interested in training to drive a truck, and about 40 percent of its employees are current or former service members. The Patriot Fleet launched in 2012 with five trucks, and five more are introduced each year. They are working trucks, but also go to recruitment and military events.
THE DRIVER: DAVE BERAN
Beran put in 19 years with the U.S. Army, trained in communications and artillery, and was an instructor in artillery school. He did two tours in Germany, two in Korea, and at home served as department commander of the Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars. As a kid he worked in a truckstop caf, and got interested in the trucks, so it was a childhood ambition to be a truck driver. Soon after retiring from the Army he trained with Crete to get his CDL. He was chosen to drive a Patriot Fleet truck last year.
THE EXPERIENCE
I bet Ive had my picture taken more than Halle Berry! says Beran. Im always handing out business cards and Ive had quite a few responses from veterans. Im working with a Marine vet who saw my truck and now wants to work at Crete Carrier. Thats part of the job of having this truck showing it off and drumming up support for military veterans.
THE TRUCK: RIDE OF PRIDE
THE COMPANY: SCHNEIDER
Founder Al Schneider was in the National Guard and hired his friends from the Guard when he first started the company. That connection with military veterans has remained strong throughout the companys history. Twenty percent of company drivers have military experience.
THE DRIVER: RANDY TWINE
Twine spent 12 years in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer, followed by six years in the Army National Guard, then eight years with the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard as an air transportation specialist. He joined Schneider in 1993 and was named a Ride of Pride driver in 2014. In his first year driving the truck, he will drive it to military recognition, recruiting and promotional events. Afterward, he will use it for his regular carries.
THE EXPERIENCE
Twine quickly got accustomed to the attention his truck got. So when he made a quick stop to grab a meal, he wasnt particularly surprised on his return to see somebody staring at his rig. He was ready to answer any questions. He approached the silver-haired woman, about 80 years old, and realized she had tears streaming down her cheeks. As he stood beside her, she pointed at the mural on his cab.
Thats Vietnam, isnt it? she asked.
Yes maam, it is, Twine said.
My son died in Vietnam, she said.
It was an emotional moment, but her tears were not sad ones. She had come to feel that the loss she mourned each day was hers alone. She believed that people had forgotten that long-ago war. The big rig with the battle scene from Vietnam had shown her that her familys sacrifice was remembered and honored.
