The Driving for Excellence award was granted to America’s Top Veteran Rookie Driver, a military veteran of 24 years, on Friday, and the prize was more than just accolades.
The ‘Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence’ award was presented to US Marine and Army veteran of 24 years, Joseph H. Campbell Jr., at a special ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Campbell drives for Roehl Transport’s Flatbed Division and has completed his first year of a two-year apprenticeship program accident-free. He is also a member of Roehl’s Driver Advisory Group and will soon be a certified trainer.
As a part of the Driving for Excellence award, Campbell was also presented with a Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper, PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission, and PACCAR 40K tandem axles – called “The Driver’s Truck.”
“It’s a great honor to receive this award,” Campbell said to reporters.
“This Kenworth T680 will provide some exciting new opportunities for my future career in the trucking industry. Thanks to Roehl Transport, Hiring our Heroes, FASTPORT and Kenworth for supporting and encouraging veterans to make the transition into the trucking industry,” he continued.
“We appreciate Joseph Campbell’s service to this country and his dedication to achieve growth and success in his trucking industry career. The Kenworth T680 will serve him well,” said Lisa Berreth, Kenworth marketing director.
The runner-up award nominees Christopher Bacon of the US Marines and TMC Transportation, and Wade Bumgarner of the US Navy and Veriha Trucking, were each awarded $5,000. Second runner-up Steve Harris of the US Marines and Stevens Transport was awarded the second place prize of $10,000.
“Joseph Campbell separated himself by serving in two branches of the military, then translating those skills as an apprentice in Roehl’s Flatbed Division,” said Brad Bentley, President of FASTPORT, a program involved in the Driving for Excellence award aimed at helping veterans get hired and transition back into civilian life.
“He understands that his first responsibility is protecting the motoring public and then picking up and delivering cargo on-time and undamaged. Joseph demonstrated that by completing his first year of employment accident free. These military service members who transitioned into careers as professional drivers are hard-working, dependable, motivated, ethical and disciplined team players – an asset to the trucking industry and their companies.”
