Con-way Freight seeks to enlist U.S. Army reservists

Con-way Freight seeks to enlist U.S. Army reservists

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   Con-way Freight entered a partnership with the U.S. Army Reserve to offer trucking industry employment opportunities to soldiers who are leaving active duty, but will remain in reserve status.
   The less-than-truckload carrier said it would work with the Army Reserve to recruit, license and offer training reciprocity to qualified soldier candidates who are entering the freight transportation field.
   “Our partnership will provide soldiers with opportunities to apply the unique skills and experience they have gained in the Army Reserve to the civilian workforce,' said Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commanding general of the Army Reserve, to a crowd gathered to witness the signing of the partnership at Con-way Freight’s Ann Arbor, Mich. headquarters on July 2.
   “We consider it a competitive advantage to be a recommended employer of choice for such a highly skilled and dedicated group of individuals as they take the next step in their careers,” said John G. Labrie, president of Con-way Freight.
   The Army Reserve has entered similar agreements with other industries, such as health care, Stultz said.
   Schneider National, the nation’s largest truckload carrier, said Tuesday it would work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide incentives for service men and women to become owner-operators working.
   Nearly three months ago, the American Trucking Associations and Army Reserve entered a partnership to promote trucking jobs to new reservists with active duty experience.
   “It’s a preliminary agreement wherein the Army Reserve and ATA agreed to develop a system through which the trucking industry could help convey the opportunities to serve in the Army Reserve,” said Bill Wanamaker, director of government traffic and security operations at the ATA, in an interview with American Shipper.
   “This benefits the industry because we gain high quality applicants with discipline, work ethics and clean backgrounds, who are ready to enter the civilian workforce,” he said.
   “In my opinion, once Con-way’s competitors discover what a rich applicant pool that Con-way has tapped into they will also be banging on the door of the Army Reserve,” Wanamaker said.
   Wanamaker explained that one of the challenges for the ATA and Army Reserve is reconciling the transportation training of the military with that of the private-sector trucking industry set by the U.S. Transportation Department.
   “The Army Reserve, FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and ATA are working on a way to resolve any differences, so that the soldier is ready to roll when transitioning from active duty to civilian work life as a reservist,” he said. ' Chris Gillis