A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and California National Guard service member recently earned Ride of Pride driver honors and is set to roll a rig thanking soldiers for their commitment.
Joseph Morning will represent Schneider National by operating the highly stylized Freightliner truck over the next 12 months. He’s expected to participate in the annual Wreaths Across America event in Washington on Dec. 17.
“We are incredibly proud to have someone as highly regarded as Joseph Morning behind the wheel of this year’s Ride of Pride truck. Adding a new Ride of Pride truck to our fleet is always an exciting time and displays our dedication to those who serve. We are committed and honored to provide opportunities for veterans and current service members,” Rob Reich, a Schneider executive and U.S. Army veteran, reportedly said.
Nearly 14 percent of Schneider employees served in the military, and the Ride of Pride stands as a physical example of the organization’s commitment to veterans. Freightliner has presented Schneider with 14 Ride of Pride tractors since starting the program in 2001, by far the most awarded to any carrier with ties to veterans. Morning spent four years in the Marine Corps, including five foreign deployments to Japan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
“When I saw the truck roll down the line, especially with many veterans there, it was one of my top life experiences. It was surreal. I had a lot of mixed emotions,” Morning reportedly said. “I look forward to meeting other veterans at Schneider and across the country. Most importantly, I’ll get to be a part of Wreaths Across America. My first Sergeant Major is at Arlington. One of the greatest honors would be to be able to deliver wreaths there to honor him and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
Morning signed on with Schneider three years ago and continues to serve in the California National Guard. In his spare time, he films videos using drones that he shares on social media. Transitioning into civilian life via a truck driving career has served many veterans well. That’s largely because it entails responsibility, attention to detail, and commitment.
“Being a truck driver is almost the equivalent of being in the military, to an extent,” Morning reportedly said. “You have to be able to take care of yourself and other people around you, and you need to be aware of your environment. I feel that having those skills and transferring them over to truck driving worked out very well.”
Sources: thetrucker.com, schneiderjobs.com, freightwaves.com
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