OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2014--
Veterans Day provided the perfect setting for Werner
Enterprises (NASDAQ:WERN), a premier transportation and logistics
provider, to introduce Freedom 4 Ride of Honor during a ceremony
honoring military veterans at its Atlanta, Georgia, terminal. Freedom 4
is the fourth installment in Werner’s Operation Freedom fleet of
military-wrapped trucks.
Werner representatives speaking at the event included C.L. Werner,
company founder and chairman emeritus; Derek
Leathers, president and COO; Jim Morbach, senior director of Student
and Government Recruiting; and Felicia Berggren, professional driver.
Werner also commemorated Veterans Day at its 11 other terminal
locations, including a ceremony in Dallas, Texas, and at its global
headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, and offered a free lunch to all of its
professional drivers.
“So much of what we are thankful for is a direct result of the bravery
of those who serve and sacrifice in our military,” Leathers said. “It is
our honor to salute our veterans and continue our mission to support
them every day in our actions and within our organization.”
Berggren, who will drive the Freedom 4 Ride of Honor truck, is a
native of Owensboro, Kentucky, and has been a Werner driver and trainer
for nearly two years. She has a personal connection and appreciation for
those in the military, as her father served in the Army and her brother
served in the Navy.
“I can’t describe my excitement,” Berggren said. “This opportunity will
allow me to convey my deep gratitude to all veterans and those who
serve, as well as reach out to their families to show support and
encouragement.”
The Freedom 4 Ride of Honor’s unique design, created by Army
veteran Ed Keeter, features the image of Army veteran Brian Miller, who
was wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq, and Tino, an 11-year-old retired
member of a K-9 unit who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The truck will
travel with Berggren on her regular freight routes, as well as be
showcased at truck shows, recruiting events and specific veteran
ceremonies to bring awareness to Werner’s industry-leading military
apprenticeship program.
Werner developed the Operation
Freedom Program in conjunction with the White House veteran campaign
and introduced its first truck, Freedom 1, in February 2013, followed by
Freedom 2 in May 2013. Werner debuted Freedom 3 in August of this year
and has ongoing plans to grow its military fleet.
Werner widely has been acknowledged for its efforts to ease the
transition of military veterans into the workplace, receiving
recognition by GI Jobs magazine as both a “Top 100 Military
Friendly Employer for 2014” and a “Top 50 Military Spouse Employer for
2014.” Werner’s Professional Truck Driver Apprenticeship Program allows
veterans to use their benefits to pay for training while receiving
on-the-job instruction.
Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is a premier
transportation and logistics company, with coverage throughout North
America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner
maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska and maintains
offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Australia.
Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United
States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that
includes dedicated van, temperature-controlled and flatbed;
medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van; and expedited services.
Werner's Value Added Services portfolio includes freight management,
truck brokerage, intermodal and international services. International
services are provided through Werner’s domestic and global subsidiary
companies and include ocean, air and ground transportation; freight
forwarding; and customs brokerage.
Werner Enterprises, Inc.’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global
Select MarketSM under the symbol “WERN”. For further
information about Werner, visit the company’s website at www.werner.com.
Source: Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises
Fred Thayer, 402-895-6640 ext. 2065
Director
of Corporate Communications
fthayer@werner.com