Fontaine Modification, IL2000, Ambest, HTI Hall Trucking, and Bridgestone Americas are featured in this week’s Five Good Things.

Fontaine has hired two employees from previous UNCC design teams.

Fontaine Modification teams with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to develop young engineers

Fontaine Modification, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and engineering students at UNCC’s W.S. Lee College of Engineering are reaping the benefits of a cooperative design-team program. The program helps prepare future engineers for employment while helping Fontaine identify and recruit talented employees.

The program is a degree requirement for UNCC engineering students and extends over the final two semesters. Each group of students tackles a manufacturing design challenge set forth by an industry partner. Students typically choose a project related to the industry they aim to enter.

Fontaine has hired two employees from previous UNCC design teams. Garrett Brown’s 2018-2019 team developed a modular scaffolding solution. He joined Fontaine after graduating in 2019. Joshua Greene’s 2021-2022 team created a new tool kit for measuring drivelines on heavy-duty trucks. Fontaine hired him as a production engineer in 2023.

Greene said he appreciated being able to put the theories he had learned into practical use through the project.

“I selected the Fontaine design project so I would have access to an actual work environment around the trucks,” Greene said. “It was very hands-on working on the project, and we were able to come into the factory with the Fontaine faculty as we developed the tool kit.”

The UNCC Senior Design Program gave Greene real-world experience and introduced him to the truck modification industry.

“I had no idea that Fontaine even existed—so I may not have sought out the position that I was hired for,” Greene said. “It’s a two-way street. Fontaine learns of strong candidates, and we bring in new, fresh ideas that build collaboration between experienced and new engineers.”

“We are thankful to IL2000 for acknowledging the outstanding performance and dedication of our Truckload team,” said Mark French, 3PL director of corporate business development at Averitt. “The team’s efforts make it easy to maintain good relationships with our partners.”

IL2000 names R+L Carriers, Southeastern, Averitt 2023 Carriers of the Year

IL2000 recently announced the Annual Carrier of the Year Award winners, pursuing better carrier-provider relationships.

“Our relationships are critical to executing solutions for our clients,” said IL2000 President Ken Nadler. “Thus, we place heavy performance emphasis on service by the carriers we select as our partners.”

Selecting Carrier of the Year is based on leading performance indicators: on-time delivery and pick-up, claims, year-over-year growth, total volume, responsiveness, and the unique value-added between IL2000 and each partner. This year’s winners excelled across all categories, a must for IL2000.

“The winners have many things in common, including above 99% on-time service and use of the IL2000 API to share data. We’re excited to see their year-over-year growth,” said Tim Gavronski, senior director of logistics engineering at IL2000.

The award winners include:

National Carrier of the Year: R+L Carriers
Regional Carrier of the Year: Southeastern Freight Lines
Truckload Carrier of the Year: Averitt

Ambest president & CEO Chuck Ryan & Stacey Hamilton pictured on Broadway, in front of Ole Red and the 2023 Grand Prize, 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

Dedicated truck driver of 38 years wins Ambuck$ 2023 Grand Prize

Ambest, a nationwide network of independent truck stops, travel centers, and service centers, recently hosted its 2023 Grand Prize Celebration. Chuck Ryan, president and CEO of Ambest, presented Stacey Hamilton, a long-time Ambuck$ card holder and driver of 38 years, with the 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am sponsored by Lucas Oil, Monster Energy, and PowerUp. His winning Ambuck$ transaction occurred on August 17th, 2023, at Truckers Inn in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

"Ambest is proud and grateful to have been able to award our 2023 Ambuck$ Grand Prize to such a deserving person," said Chuck Ryan, "Stacey has labored and served as a career Truck Driver for over 38 years. After getting to know him and his wife Lisa, we feel that he was the perfect recipient."

Hamilton started as a teenager, driving with his dad and learning the ropes of a truck driver. He worked his way up from being a company driver to owning his truck, as he has for the past twenty-two years. He is currently leased out to a company in Parker, South Dakota, and looks forward to finishing his trucking career with them.

"I am married to my amazing wife Leisa, and we have four beautiful daughters. They are my world, and I wouldn't be where I am today without their love and support," Hamilton said.

Ambuck$ is the longest, continuously running professional driver rewards program. It gives truck drivers more than $30,000 in prizes and rewards each year. Drivers swipe their Ambuck$ loyalty card when they fuel at any Ambest location or get work done at an Ambest Service Center. Each swipe is an entry to win multiple prizes throughout the year.

Food donations from HTI Hall Trucking waiting to be donated to the Little Free Pantry in Findlay.

Trucking company donates food

HTI Hall Trucking is committed to making a difference where it matters.

For the past two weeks, the company has accepted donations of canned food and other essentials to drop off at the Little Free Pantry in Findlay. They have worked closely with Heather Hunt, who is involved with the Little Free Pantry, to make sure they can make a positive difference this Easter season.

Teresa Ireland, a staff member at HTI Hall Trucking, had nothing but positive things to say about the outpouring of donations.

“We really have had quite the response,” Ireland said. “I mean, there has been so much support from Findlay; it’s really been great. We’ve received more donations than we expected, so it’s been quite the surprise,” she said.

In total, the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund has awarded $949,000 in grants to multiple nonprofits.

Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund awards nearly $1M to non-profits

The Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund recently announced it awarded almost one million dollars to U.S. national and local non-profit organizations.

Twenty-two non-profit organizations received grants based on their close alignment with the company’s geographic footprint and its evolving business strategy as a sustainable mobility solutions company. Eight of these organizations will receive larger strategic partner grants and increased volunteer support because they perform work in areas of priority for Bridgestone, including promoting diversity, mobility, education, and access to employment. The fourteen additional community partner grants were awarded to organizations recommended by Bridgestone employees.

“This is the first strategic shift in our charitable giving since the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund was established 72 years ago by Harvey Firestone, Jr.,” said Wade Munday, director of corporate philanthropy and social impact at Bridgestone Americas. “We remain committed to delivering on Bridgestone’s mission of serving society in our local communities and industries. Now we are applying a laser-focused approach on aligning our philanthropic efforts to strategic business areas where increased levels of support can help scale solutions and serve more people.”

In total, the Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund has awarded $949,000 in grants across the below list of non-profit organizations thus far in 2024:

Strategic partners: