Magazine is a weekly roundup of interesting people stories related to the transportation industry. This week: JB Hunt launches a scholarship program for employees’ dependents and grandchildren, Maersk’s rainbow container is enjoyed by employees in Cape Town, South Africa, and Schneider receives its 14th Ride of Pride truck.
J. B. Hunt awards $250,000 in scholarships to relatives of employees
JB Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced Tuesday that it has launched the JB Hunt Scholarship Program for Families, which is supported by the educational organization Scholarship America.
Dependents and grandchildren of JB Hunt employees may apply for the scholarship if they are attending a two- or four-year college, trade school, or renewable vocational school for up to four years with full-time enrollment status with a 2.5 GPA or higher. average score.
“Leading this program is one of the many ways JB Hunt works to give back to our communities,” said Brad Hicks, president of road services and executive vice president of JB Hunt. “Innovative ideas that will change the world are with today’s students, and we want them to have the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential.”
J. B. Hunt also announced the first 100 recipients of scholarships totaling $250,000.
Chris Ferguson, an analyst at JB Hunt, was grateful for the funds given to his son, who was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia at a young age. The disease causes the heart to beat faster than usual. According to the analyst, his son hopes to one day find a cure for the condition.
“A gift from J. B. Hunt will allow my son Hugh to complete his education and become a pediatric cardiologist, a profession that is literally near and dear to his heart,” Ferguson said. “The Ferguson family want JB Hunt to know that as an organization we not only provide excellent delivery and logistics, but also make a difference in the lives of employees.”
Other recipients, such as Alice Louise Geonang, aim to use the funds to further their education in the supply chain.
“JB Hunt truly values its people and provides them and their families with the resources they need to succeed,” she said. “I am honored to be a recipient of the JB Hunt for Families Scholarship. It allowed me to further my education, make an impact in my community and gave me the motivation to persevere and the confidence to succeed.”
Maersk rainbow container landed in Africa
Global logistics provider Maersk announced this week that one of its 17 iconic rainbow containers has landed in Cape Town, South Africa, where company employees and Cape Town residents could get the chance to sign the container, which has been traveling around the world since July 2020.
The containers were created in partnership with plastics, chemicals and agricultural products maker Dow Chemical Co., painted to symbolize the two companies’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The partners started with two containers in 2021, sending them on a world tour of Dow locations and Maersk terminals. At each stop, the containers were opened and employees could sign on the walls of the containers to symbolize their personal commitment to their company’s DEI plan.
“This project with Maersk has opened the door to a much broader collaboration,” said Gael De Martellare, director of global logistics for Dow. “It allowed us to engage in a discussion around the importance and necessity [DEI] initiatives while promoting Maersk’s cleanup and sustainability projects. Working with partners with shared values is a great opportunity to improve existing business relationships.”
Due to the popularity of the containers, Maersk has produced 15 more in 2022 to reach more destinations around the world.
“We don’t just drive one aspect of diversity; we see the rainbow as a symbol of diversity in general, for all the unique aspects of diversity shared by our employees, customers and stakeholders,” says Rachel Asikoya, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Maersk.
Schneider honors Army veteran with 14th Ride of Pride truck
Multimodal logistics provider Schneider recently announced that it has received its 14th Ride of Pride truck for Freightliner’s program honoring veterans working in the trucking industry.
Since 2011, throughout the year, trucking companies can nominate their veteran drivers to be awarded a special decorated truck to be used on the job and participate in local and national events.
The fourteenth truck went to driver and 24-year veteran Army combat engineer Jeff Wagoner. During two tours of duty in the Army — he served from 1985 to 1989 and re-enlisted in 1998 — Wagoner was responsible for infrastructure, mine detection and explosive ordnance disposal during tours in Iraq, Bosnia and Serbia. He also spent time helping with disaster relief in the US Virgin Islands after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
Wagoner joined Schneider after retiring from the Army in an apprenticeship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I just enjoy driving,” Waggoner said. “I like the opportunities it gives you to meet new people, whether it’s other drivers at the truck stop or customers. Every day is different, and while some days are harder than others, that’s with any job.”
Schneider also recently announced its first female Ride of Pride driver, Patrice Cook, another 24-year Army veteran.
“Only when I was working a [training engineer] in 2019 when two fellow drivers approached me and said I should be a Ride of Pride driver,” Cook said. “Not knowing what that meant, I looked it up and knew right away that I had to be a part of the program.”
Drivers who receive trucks that receive maintenance from Freightliner before the driver retires are invited to two national events each year. First up is veteran band Rolling Thunder’s Ride for Freedom.
Honorary drivers also help deliver wreaths to veterans’ graves across the country for Wreaths Across America, including participating in the group’s flagship event on National Wreaths Across America Day, when more than 60 Ride of Pride drivers deliver more than 250,000 veterans’ wreaths to the Arlington National cemetery in a procession that begins at Maine Wreath Maker Morrill Worcester.
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https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-log-book-jb-hunt-awards-250000-in-scholarships-to-employees-relatives
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