A man, a dog, and the open road
For Quinton Ward, the top military veteran rookie driver and winner of Kenworth’s T680 Advantage, joining the trucking industry after serving in the military wasn’t a part of the plan. His goal was to put in a full 20 years serving his country, but that dream ended when he was injured. He had to retire after five years in the U.S. Army.
“A few years ago, I never would have imagined I’d be in the trucking industry, let alone named the top military veteran driver,” Ward said. “It’s an honor, and I’m proud to be an owner-operator and drive my very own Kenworth T680.”
Ward’s path to becoming an owner-operator isn’t like most. In the Army, Ward served as a mechanic, a position that required him to service and occasionally drive trucks and other heavy equipment. It was a position he enjoyed and figured he would do for many years. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and injuries forced him to retire in 2010.
After undergoing six years of medical treatment, with the help of his service dog, Kirra, Ward began looking for new opportunities.
That next calling led to Ward earning his commercial driver’s license, with the help of the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program, so that he could pursue a career as a truck driver. It seemed like a natural fit, because he had experience operating heavy equipment in the military.
At the truck school, representatives from Werner Enterprises came by to recruit new drivers. There was mutual interest.
Accompanying the recruiters were members of Werner’s Operations Freedom Fleet – eight military-themed trucks piloted by veterans – used to honor and recruit military members. The drivers attend numerous events while still hauling freight.
“It was pretty clear to me early on that Werner truly cares about those who have served our country, and so it was a company I wanted to work for,” Ward said. “Plus, even though my service dog would already be allowed to join me on the road, the company had a great pet policy, so I was sold.”
In 2017, Ward hit the road in one of Werner’s Kenworth T680s, which he drove for several months. Shortly after, he became a member of the Operations Freedom Fleet.
“It was an honor to join the fleet,” Ward said. “I feel like the work we do – recruiting, honoring and helping military members and family’s transition into the trucking industry – is very fulfilling. We’re finding great military drivers who may otherwise never have thought about driving as a profession without us. To me, the trucking industry is one of the greatest industries. It’s truly the backbone of America, and without it our economy would be at a standstill. I’m proud to be a driver.”
Ward’s work with the Operations Freedom Fleet, as well as his driving ability, didn’t go unnoticed.
“I got a call from my fleet manager saying that I had been nominated for the top military rookie driver award (formally known as the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award),” Ward said.
Nine months after being nominated, Ward went on to win the award provided by Kenworth, in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program and Fastport Trucking Track Mentoring Program. He received a Kenworth T680 Advantage equipped with the fully integrated Paccar Powertrain equipped with a fuel-efficient 455-hp Paccar MX-13 engine, Paccar 12-speed automated transmission, and Paccar 40K tandem rear axles.
“There were a lot of deserving drivers that could have won this award, so I’m very humbled to have won,” Ward said. “I’m very grateful for all of the sponsors and for Kenworth to donate the T680.”
As an owner-operator, Ward is about as ambitious as they come. Since receiving his Kenworth T680 in December 2018, he has already racked up 24,000 miles with hopes to exceed 135,000 miles by the end of the year.
“The T680 is a great truck to drive,” Ward said. “The Paccar MX-13 engine provides plenty of power and is very quiet, and the gear shifts are so smooth you don’t even really feel it change. Plus, the turning radius is phenomenal.”
Since becoming an owner-operator, Ward has continued to drive for Werner Enterprises and is still an active ambassador for the Operations Freedom Fleet. With the ability to create his own schedule, Ward can pick and choose freight that will take him to Operation Freedom Fleet events. The Kenworth T680 now features a specially designed military wrap featuring Kirra, who is always a passenger on the road.
Becoming a driver may never have been in Ward’s original cards, but it’s an industry he has embraced, and he continues to find similarities between the trucking industry and his years spent serving in the Army.
“There is a lot of comradery in the trucking industry that most people don’t realize,” he said. “More times than not, drivers will pull over to lend a helping hand…we’re all in this together. It’s very similar to the military.” LL