TRALA joins forces with military veterans to attack maintenance technician shortage

June 1, 2006
The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) and members of its Equipment and Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) traveled to the Aberdeen Proving

The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) and members of its Equipment and Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) traveled to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to get a look at the Department of Labor's Hire Vets First Committee's Training Assistance Program (TAP).

The group and ETAC were represented by Jim Russo of AmeriQuest Transportation and Logistics Resources; Ken McKibben of Penske Truck Leasing Co; Jim Salas and Ty Cross of Ryder System; Andy Stopka of NationaLease; and Don Porthan of Paccar Leasing Co.

TRALA and its member companies have teamed up with the President's National Hire Veterans Committee. The commission was established under the 2002 Jobs for Veterans Act, in an effort to offer more training, skills, and job opportunities to military veterans.

The visit to Aberdeen allowed senior maintenance executives to observe Department of Defense (DOD) transition training, including a briefing on wheel vehicle mechanic training and certification programs and to witness an Advance Individual Training in progress.

TRALA also participates in the HireVetsFirst initiative, an Internet portal for employers to find veterans. The site provides employment resource information, nationwide job fair listings, local community career centers that provide employment assistance to employers, and access to links for Americas Job Bank and an electronic job search engine. More information is at www.hirevetsfirst.gov.

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