Five Good Things: Industry supports military

Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for extinguishing truck fire

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Kerry Netusil, a truck driver from Hawley, Pennsylvania, a TCA Highway Angel for extinguishing the flames of a pickup truck that was on fire on the side of the road. Netusil drives for Bay & Bay Transportation out of Eagan, Minnesota.

At 12:25 p.m. on April 22, 2025, in Archdale, North Carolina, Netusil was passing an older-model pickup truck on the shoulder of Highway 85. He noticed that the unit was on fire, and the driver had no way to extinguish the flames.

“I pulled over and ran back with my fire extinguisher,” Netusil said.

The fire caused damage to the truck, and Netusil, who has been a truck driver for eight years, quickly worked to extinguish it. The driver sustained injuries from the fire, which was caused when he plugged in his cell phone.

“The guy’s truck was totaled,” he said, “and he definitely burned part of his hand in the fire.”

Netusil’s grandfather and father were both firefighters, Netusil said, and he never hesitated to stop to help the distressed driver.

“I don’t like the idea of people losing stuff because I didn’t feel like pulling over,” he said. “It just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Pilot salutes military families this May with donation and offers

Pilot is honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans, military members, and their families this May for Military Appreciation Month with a donation to Folds of Honor and exclusive offers.

As part of Pilot’s purpose of showing people they matter at every turn, and through its recently launched Miles of Good initiative, the company is donating $100,000 to Folds of Honor. This nonprofit organization provides scholarships to the spouses and children of military members and first responders who have fallen or become disabled while serving their country or communities. This donation adds to the more than $2.7 million Pilot has given to support military and veteran-focused organizations since 2020.

"With contributions to organizations like Folds of Honor, we salute military service members’ legacies by helping provide educational scholarships,” Meg Counts, director of corporate giving and events, said. “As a company grounded in serving others, we are honored to give our support to military members and their families who do so much to uplift and protect our communities.”

Throughout Military Appreciation Month in May, veterans, military personnel, and their families authenticated with ID.me in the myRewards Plus app will unlock three free weekly offers that can be redeemed at participating Pilot locations. Deals include free Pilot coffee and fountain drinks, freshly prepared Pilot foods like pizza and breakfast sandwiches, and popular brand-name cooler drinks.

Next Generation in Trucking honors 16 fleets with Career Catalyst Awards

The Next Generation in Trucking Association has recognized 16 trucking fleets as recipients of the 2025 Career Catalyst Award. The award program, new in 2025, honors and celebrates the innovation, effort, time, and resources of the 16 recipients in striving to reach younger people, specifically those entering the workforce as they leave high school and college, to promote trucking as a positive first-choice career.

“The work, and the results, this year’s recipients have showcased are astounding, and they’re all setting an example the entire industry can look to for answers to help fix one of the root problems our industry faces, which is getting young people interested in trucking and providing careers they want to remain in,” Lindsey Trent, president and co-founder of the Next Generation in Trucking Association, said. 

The 2025 Career Catalyst Award recipients focus on the next generation of trucking by hiring recent high school graduates in roles such as warehouse and dock associates, driver helpers, internships, and customer service roles; providing training programs to train younger people to earn a CDL and to become certified diesel mechanics; working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide apprenticeship programs to drivers under the age of 21; fostering partnerships with local high schools and community colleges to establish CDL programs and to bring students on-site to their facilities for enrichment; and using in-cab technology that makes jobs more rewarding and fun.

“We have to meet young people where they are,” Trent emphasized. “The use of technology, cultivating working environments built around longevity, creating and messaging career progression plans, enriching soft skills, and leadership training—these are all ways we can connect with younger people to grow their interest in trucking and give them skills they need to succeed.”

This year’s 16 winners include large and recognizable for-hire motor carriers like Ryder System, Kenan Advantage Group, Averitt, and Old Dominion Freight Lines; midsized fleets like Christenson Transportation and Keller Trucking; and smaller fleets like Upper Lake Foods, Alaska West Express, and Garner Trucking. The 2025 recipients also include private fleets ranging in size from a few dozen trucks to thousands. Private fleet awardees include Key Oil, Ben E. Keith Foods, Republic Services, Boyd CAT, Cal Valley Trucking, Ginsberg’s Foods, and Performance Food Service.

“Having worked for decades in the classroom with high-school-aged students and having established CDL programs at the high school level, I can tell you that so many of today’s teenagers are hungry for the types of opportunities trucking offers and alternatives to traditional college and career tracks,” said Dave Dein, a high school teacher at Patterson High School in Patterson, California, and co-founder of the Next Generation in Trucking Association. “They’re actively looking for opportunities like the ones the Career Catalyst Award winners offer and the chance to prove themselves, earn a great living, and excel in careers in trucking. Thank you and congratulations to this year’s winners.”

See also: How well are you prepared for International Roadcheck 2025?

Wreaths Across America announces 2024 top groups in ‘Truckloads of Remembrance’ campaign

Wreaths Across America (WAA) recently recognized the work done by “Truckloads of Remembrance” participants for 2024 and the top groups from the campaign.

WAA partners with more than 300 transportation companies annually to help “move the mission.” These companies donate equipment, fuel, staff, and time to deliver loads of sponsored veterans’ wreaths to their final resting places. Through Truckloads of Remembrance, WAA partners with State Trucking Associations and national transportation industry organizations to raise wreath sponsorships to fill virtual tractor-trailer loads of sponsored veterans’ wreaths for placement on National Wreaths Across America Day.

Last year, with the assistance of 34 state trucking associations, more than 10,500 veterans’ wreaths were sponsored—that’s over two full trailer loads delivered to honor and remember interred service members.

The top groups for 2024’s “Truckloads of Remembrance” are as follows:

• State Trucking Association Champion (the most sponsorships raised): Indiana Motor Truck Association (2nd consecutive year)
• State Trucking Association Squad Award (given to staff with three or fewer people with high engagement): Virginia Trucking Association (2nd consecutive year)
• State Trucking Association Innovation Award (given for creative fundraising and promotions efforts): Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
• State Trucking Association Regional Champion (most sponsorships by region): TAEC Region I. States participating include Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to see the continued engagement and support of the transportation industry through the Truckloads of Remembrance annual campaign,” Courtney George, WAA director of transportation and industry relations, said. “This program provides an opportunity for those in the transportation industry who are invested in the year-long mission but may not have the equipment or ability to haul veterans’ wreaths as part of the Honor Fleet to participate. Through the program, funds are being given back to support local transportation industry needs while raising awareness and necessary funds for the WAA mission.”

Truckers for Troops mission: Military Appreciation Month 

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is acknowledging Military Appreciation Month with a Truckers for Troops campaign from May 12-18. This program focuses on supporting U.S. troops overseas and veterans back home.

During the campaign period, truck drivers can join or renew for $35, with 10% of that money going toward care packages. OOIDA matches the 10%, dollar for dollar.  

Anyone who has a family member or friend serving with the U.S. military and would like them to receive a care package can send the name and complete address to [email protected]. 

The fundraising effort has been an OOIDA tradition since 2007, originally dedicated to sending care packages to service personnel stationed in combat zones. Truckers for Troops has also helped a variety of veteran facilities, including those assisting or housing wounded, disabled, or homeless service members. Over the past 17 years, OOIDA has raised more than $800,000, sent more than 3,278 care packages, and served more than 39,276 members of the military.