Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2016 43 INNOVATORS KLLM TRANSPORT SER VICES Richland, Miss. and regulations, Mississippi require- ments for obtaining a commercial driver's license and hands-on tractor- trailer operation. Program graduates receive a Hinds diploma upon comple- tion of student requirements. The KLLM Scholarships, which cover the entire cost of the Hinds driver train- ing, are available for qualifi ed applicants who agree to a one-year period of employment with the company. Eligible applicants must be a current or prospec- tive Hinds student who is at least 21, be a high school graduate or GED recipient and meet the normal requirements for any KLLM job applicant. "We hope this scholarship will eliminate the fi nancial burden for anyone who wants to get job training but can't afford to," says Kirk Blanken- ship, KLLM's vice president of driver resources. "We want to give back to our community and at the same time develop a pool of new truck drivers who can go right to work for KLLM. This program serves our need for drivers and helps Mississippians who are looking for work in our industry." Hinds and KLLM recently were able to boost their training capabili- ties thanks to a $250,000 gift from the Walmart Foundation intended to help diversify the ranks of the trucking industry. The money – part of a larger $100 million commitment by the retailer to KLLM uses scholarships, relationships with driving schools to recruit, train new drivers BY DEAN SMALLWOOD F leets have implemented many different strategies to address their driver recruiting and retention challenges, including higher pay, enhanced benefi t packages, sign-on bonuses, performance rewards, more mileage, new equip- ment, dedicated and preferred routes and additional home time, among other perks. KLLM Transport Services (CCJ Top 250, No. 39), a Richland, Miss.-based temper- ature-controlled carrier, has found that one of the best ways to track down and keep drivers is to fi nd newcomers to the industry and train them – the earlier the better, in hopes of possibly infl uencing them to stick around longer. The company's services throughout the United States and Mexico include single and team over-the-road, regional (based from Atlanta and Chicago) and dedicated, including private fl eet enhancement and replacement, with a fl eet of 3,800 trac- tors and 5,500 trailers. Intermodal services provide intracontinental transportation across multiple modes using more than 1,200 trailers. KLLM's Logistics Services division provides customers with options beyond the company's fl eet capacity. Its carrier network is comprised of both large and small fl eets offering full truckload, less-than-truckload, air and ground expedited and specialized freight services. To keep customers informed across the supply chain, it guarantees 24/7 dispatch and customer service, load tracking, daily check calls and emailed updates. Mississippi diversity In 2012, KLLM began offering $4,000 scholarships to cover the cost of training for students enrolled in the Commercial Truck Driving program at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss. The program now is housed at the fi rst KLLM Driving Academy in Richland, which opened as a new separate facility in March 2014. The Hinds program is available as an eight-week course to both daytime and evening students. The curriculum includes U.S. Department of Transportation rules The refrigerated hauler works with regional colleges to grow and enhance its driver training programs.