HTI’s patriotic trailer honors America’s 250th anniversary

One family-owned trucking company based in Findlay, Ohio, HTI Hall Trucking Express, will commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday with a rolling reminder of where the country started, where it’s been, and how far it’s come with a celebratory vinyl wrap on one of its trailers. The wrap depicts a timeline of U.S. history, accompanied by images of George Washington, scenes from past wars, and more.

The idea to wrap one of HTI’s trailers for America’s 250th birthday originated with Taylor Ireland of HTI’s operations team in fall 2024, after a museum visit in which the director urged local companies to contribute to the Semiquincentennial celebration.

“Within seconds, it hit me,” Ireland told FleetOwner. “I said, ‘I’m going to take the concept of our Military Tribute trailer, and instead of showcasing the branches of our military, I’m going to tell America’s story in a timeline form on the trailer.”

Nominations open for 2026 ‘Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence’ Award

Fastport, Kenworth, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative are again partnering in the search for America’s top rookie military veteran driver who successfully transitioned to the trucking industry following military service.

“For many veterans, trucking offers a way to continue serving with purpose, responsibility, and pride,” said Eric Eversole, U.S. Chamber of Commerce VP and Hiring Our Heroes president. “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence recognizes veterans who are thriving in an industry that keeps our economy moving and offers durable, long-term careers with real opportunity. We’re honored to work alongside Fastport and Kenworth to elevate these success stories for the 11th year.”

An expert panel of judges will determine the top driver. Nominations opened on March 28, and the final deadline to submit applications is June 30. Award semi-finalists will be announced on August 5. Finalists will be invited to Columbus, Ohio, to tour the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and attend a reception, followed by a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant, where the finalists will be announced.

Public voting on the finalists will occur from November 1 through 11. The final award announcement will be made in mid-December, and the winner will drive home in the Kenworth T680.

XPO unveils trailer fleet honoring America’s 250th anniversary

XPO recently unveiled a new fleet of trailers honoring America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.  
 
Built at XPO’s manufacturing facility in Searcy, Arkansas, the trailers feature patriotic branding inspired by the American flag. XPO drivers, including military veterans and those with more than one million consecutive safe driving miles, will transport the trailers across the country while moving freight for the company’s customers. 
 
“The trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy," said Mario Harik, chairman and CEO of XPO. "As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, we’re proud to recognize the drivers and freight transportation professionals who help deliver the goods we all depend on every day. These trailers are a tribute to their hard work and dedication to keeping America moving.”

Mack Trucks honors U.S. military with fan-voted Pioneer wrap for ninth #NASCARSalutes

Mack Trucks is again supporting, for the ninth year, #NASCARSalutes, an annual campaign dedicated to honoring the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. This year, Mack fans voted for their favorite special patriotic design choice to be wrapped on three Mack Pioneer models as part of NASCAR Salutes.  

Nearly 2,400 fans voted online to determine the patriotic wrap now featured on three Mack Pioneer trucks—a red, white, and blue scheme displaying the emblems of all six military branches.

The wrapped Pioneers are among 11 all-new Mack Pioneer 76-inch High-Roof Sleeper models recently added to the NASCAR fleet as part of an expanded partnership with Mack, the official hauler of NASCAR. All three will remain in active service throughout the season, traveling track to track to appear at every event.

The trucks made their debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend.

Driving America forward: Ford visits Union Station for America's 250th

At the peak of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, Ford will host Driving America Forward: A Ford Experience at Union Station, a free public exhibit that brings together, under one roof, some of the vehicles and artifacts that tell the American story.

For 123 years, Ford has done more than build automobiles.

In 1908, the Model T put America on wheels, the first car that the working man could actually afford. Five years later, in a brick factory in Highland Park, Michigan, Ford engineers perfected the moving assembly line, and the modern world was never quite the same.

In April 1964, on the floor of the New York World's Fair, Ford unveiled a sleek coupe called the Mustang. According to the company, it would become the most iconic American car of all time by most estimations.

Decades later, the F-Series pickup quietly became the workhorse of the republic. It’s now America's best-selling truck for 49 years running, and the vehicle of choice for the contractors, farmers, ranchers, and first responders who keep the country moving. 

Driving America Forward will tell these stories and more across seven narrative chapters:

• Birth of an American Dream: From a small Detroit factory to a global enterprise on six continents, the story of how Ford put the world on wheels.
• The backbone of work: A tribute to the contractors, farmers, utility crews, first responders, and fleet operators who power America's essential economy.
• Answering the call: How Ford has shown up in moments of national need: In war, in disaster relief, in medical innovation, and even in the race to the moon.
• Shaping pop culture: The Ford in the movie, the song, the photograph—and yes, even in the Popemobile.
• 125 years of racing: A racing legacy older than the company itself, driven by a desire to win.
• American innovations: Breakthroughs born in unexpected places, from the factory floor to the laboratory bench.
• Building a better world: The communities, partnerships, and people Ford has worked alongside to leave the world better than we found it.

Driving America Forward: A Ford Experience at Union Station is open daily from July 1 through July 14, in the Main Hall of Union Station in Washington, D.C. Admission is free; no ticket is required.