Washington—The Trucking Cares Foundation, the trucking industry’s charitable arm, donated $40,000 to the Next Generation in Trucking Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals.
 
The grant from Trucking Cares Foundation will be used to develop TruckFit and incorporate it into CDL training curriculums that the organization provides to high schools, community/technical colleges, and private schools around North America.  This fitness course instructs new drivers on how to prioritize their physical and mental health while on the road.
 
“The Next Generation in Trucking Foundation equips individuals with skills that will open the door of opportunity to more young people seeking economic independence in the trucking industry,” said Phil Byrd, chairman of the Trucking Cares Foundation.  “Through this donation, the Trucking Cares Foundation hopes to support this organization’s noble mission as well as promote healthy and active lifestyles so that new drivers can sustain these rewarding careers for the long haul.”
 
“With long-term driver health as the cornerstone of the Next Generation in Trucking model curriculum, we are ecstatic to be able to offer the TruckFit curriculum to schools,” said Dave Dein, CDL coordinator, California’s CTE Teacher of the Year, and co-founder of Next Generation in Trucking Association.  “The TruckFit program is essential to ensure students have the knowledge and practical application to enter the workforce with the foundation to prioritize their physical and mental health.  We are overjoyed to be able to partner with the Trucking Cares Foundation in conjunction with Dr. Mark Manera of Offshift, a digital health company built for trucking, to ensure graduates sustain long and healthy careers in the trucking industry.”
 
“Driver health is a priority as we train the next-generation workforce of commercial drivers,” said Lindsey Trent, president and co-founder of Next Generation in Trucking Association.  “Now, with the partnership with the Trucking Cares Foundation, we can make this a reality and offer practical ways for student drivers to stay healthy while on the road before their careers begin.”   

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The Next Generation in Trucking Foundation complements the work of the Next Generation in Trucking Association, a non-profit trade association with the mission to promote trucking as a positive career field; to create and partner with career technical education (CTE) programs at secondary and postsecondary institutions; and encourage the training of young people in the trucking industry by connecting them to training and employment opportunities.  The Foundation supports educational opportunities—particularly for underserved communities—through scholarships; curriculum creation; school programs; learning opportunities; and educational resources for students, schools, teachers, and administrators.