U.S. Marine Corp veteran to receive 2022 Freightliner Cascadia truck from Progressive Insurance
An honored U.S. Marine Corps veteran will receive the keys to a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia in Houston, Texas, as part of Progressive's 12th annual Keys to Progress program, part of Progressive's ongoing commitment to driving progress on the road by providing reliable transportation to military veterans and their families.
This year's truck recipient is 22-year veteran U.S. Marine Corp Retired Gunnery Sergeant Ondrae Meyers from Jacksonville, North Carolina. His specialty was USMC Motor Transport, where he specialized in heavy and medium motor transport, which sparked his passion for truck driving. Following his time with the military, Gunnery Sergeant Meyers obtained his CDL license through "Troops in Transportation," a military program where he planned his future endeavors after his service.
"What started as a passion of seeing countries around the world and in the United States from behind the wheel can be turned into providing for my family," said Gunnery Sergeant Meyers. "I am so grateful to this program for allowing me to get my fleet and career started."
Past commercial truck recipients are James Rogers and Lt. Colonel James "JC" Rose, who have both expanded their business with additional fleet vehicles and drivers since receiving their new trucks as part of the Keys to Progress program.
USPS Operation Santa teams up with Toys"R"Us to deliver holiday joy
The U.S. Postal Service is partnering with USPS Operation Santa and Toys"R"Us for the 2024 holiday season. The collaboration is expected to expand the beloved USPS Operation Santa program, making it easier for families and individuals to participate.
USPS Operation Santa, which allows people from across the U.S. to help fulfill the holiday wishes of families in need by adopting their letters to Santa Claus, recently kicked off for the year and began accepting letters.
Through the collaboration with Toys"R"Us, letter adopters can now select and purchase gifts from a specially curated e-commerce site.
"Delivering holiday joy has never been easier," said Sheila Holman, USPS marketing vice president. "And our partnership with Toys"R"Us is just the beginning. This year, we're excited to offer a curated selection of toys and playthings, and next year, we'll be expanding to include clothing, shoes, books, and more. Our goal is to make it even easier for people to personalize their gift-giving and help more families experience the magic of the holidays through USPS Operation Santa."
Also this year, USPS Operation Santa has added the option for adopters to send gifts using the Postal Service's latest shipping offering, USPS Ground Advantage. This service offers a way to ship packages across the nation, with expected delivery times ranging from 2 to 5 business days.
USPS Operation Santa will be highlighted in the new season of Hulu's original docuseries, "Dear Santa," debuting Sunday, November 24. The series will feature real-life stories of children whose letters were answered and the generous individuals and families who adopted them.
The PepsiCo Foundation invested more than $20 million in U.S. scholarship programs in last 5 years
The PepsiCo Foundation is helping to create future employees and entrepreneurs in the U.S. through scholarship and workforce development programs, providing students with financial support, networking opportunities, and career guidance.
As part of its ongoing mission to drive positive change in our communities, in the last five years, the PepsiCo Foundation has awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships in the U.S. In 2024 alone, the PepsiCo Foundation will have awarded more than 1,800 scholarships valued at almost a million to students across the U.S.
The PepsiCo Foundation supports multiple educational access and workforce development programs that unlock access to education. Its three signature programs are PepsiCo Foundation Family Scholars, PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Supportive Mentorship for Inspiring Leaders and Entrepreneurs) Scholarship, and PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship.
The Family Scholars program aims to support PepsiCo employees in the financial burden of post-secondary education and foster long-term success for the children and communities of PepsiCo employees.
The S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship program is designed to help students who have graduated from community colleges achieve their dream of attaining a 4-year baccalaureate degree. These scholarships provide financial assistance and access to mentorship opportunities, internships, and professional networks.
"Being from another country and an immigrant, we look for the American dream, and this is the real dream. I have this opportunity, and I feel so grateful it makes me cry. This has really been an amazing opportunity for me," S.M.I.L.E. Scholar Valeria Bello De Armas said. "I have the opportunity to go to school and an opportunity to maybe someday work here, and it has been incredible. You need to keep doing this program because it's changing lives. I come from a country where I don't have opportunities and here in America you have changed my life."
The Uplift Program is an extension of PepsiCo Foundation's efforts to promote educational equity. It focuses on unlocking access to higher education for students who have traditionally faced barriers to access. Through the Uplift Program, the Foundation provides community college students scholarships, academic support, and career readiness training.
PepsiCo ranked No. 2 in the 2024 FleetOwner 500 list for private fleets.
See also: PepsiCo's California fleet to add more Tesla Semis and E-Transits
Owner-operator Stacie Simmons wins Landstar’s 50th truck giveaway
Landstar recently gave away its 50th truck to a deserving independent Landstar business capacity owner, the company’s term for independent owner-operators who lease to Landstar. BCO Stacie Simmons won a bright blue 2025 Kenworth T-680 at the 2024 Landstar BCO Appreciation Days event in Durant, Oklahoma.
“Landstar truck giveaways are an important way to illustrate our gratitude to all of the Landstar BCOs who support the Landstar network by operating safely and delivering for our customers every time they get behind the wheel,” said Landstar President and CEO Frank Lonegro. “We are delighted to celebrate this life-changing event with Stacie and look forward to helping her achieve continued success as a Landstar BCO.”
After she won, Simmons stood in front of the new truck explaining why the giveaway was indeed about to be a life-changing event for her and Markus, her husband and team driver. “We have a 2016 Volvo and she’s in the shop right now, so getting this is pretty spectacular!”
Landstar purchases and gives away a brand-new truck twice a year to eligible BCOs. The very first truck giveaway was in 1994. This marks the 50th truck giveaway in the company’s history and is the second giveaway this year. Landstar Two Million Mile Safe Driver and Roadstar honoree John Fuller won the Landstar BCO All-Star Truck Giveaway in July. Landstar pays for the truck’s tag, tax, and title in both giveaways.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes grand prize winner revealed
Trucker Path recently announced that Joe Plaziak from Temple, Texas, is the grand prize winner of the third annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes.
Plaziak hauls dry freight on routes between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Greensboro, North Carolina, for Big M Transportation, a freight transportation and logistics company located in Blue Mountain, Mississippi.
“I became a commercial truck driver a little over one year ago because I saw it as an opportunity to make a good living,” Plaziak said. “Being named the Grand Prize winner in the NTDAS was a complete surprise, but it is very much appreciated because it will be a big help on the road. Especially as a new driver, I’m grateful to know that suppliers recognize how hard a job truck driving can be, and that they appreciate our dedication.”
The NTDAS Grand prize included:
- $2,500 in Sheetz gift cards
- $2,500 AMEX gift card, compliments of Double Coin Tires
- 25 complimentary one-night vouchers, good at any US Motel 6
- $500 ExxonMobil fuel card
- Apple iPad, compliments of ZOA Energy Drinks
- Beats by Dre Bluetooth Headphones, compliments of ZOA Energy Drinks
- ZOA Energy Drinks RTIC Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Cooler
- ZOA Energy Drinks-branded clothing
- 12 months of SiriusXM, compliments of Trucker Path
“I’m sure all the sponsors would agree that it’s great to see a new driver to the industry win the NTDAS Grand Prize this year,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “We started this sweepstakes three years ago as our way of recognizing professional truck drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Each year the number of sponsors, and thus the number of prizes, increases. We’re looking forward to next year!”
