Fleet Stories to Brighten Your Day: November 2023

November 2023 brings a collection of heartwarming and uplifting stories that shine a light on the positive and inspiring side of the industry.

From innovative solutions to community-driven initiatives, these top fleet stories are sure to brighten your day and offer a refreshing perspective on the latest happenings in the transport sector.

Top Fleet Stories

Here are the top four fleet stories of the month to brighten your day from November.

Helping High School Students

New Albany and Union County Schools' juniors and seniors will soon benefit from the innovative 4T Academy, a hands-on training program launched by Toyota in collaboration with local partners.

The program aims to provide students with valuable skills, enabling them to seamlessly transition into Toyota production jobs immediately after high school.

Toyota's significant investment of $1.9 million underscores its commitment to the initiative, complementing a grant previously awarded to the New Albany School District and the 4T Academy by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Kenworth 100th Anniversary T680 Signature Edition Transport Christmas Tree

Harvested on Nov. 1 from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, the 63-foot-tall Norway Spruce selected as the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be transported to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in a Kenworth 100th Anniversary T680 Signature Edition.

The Capitol Christmas Tree Tour, themed “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful,” officially kicked off on Nov. 4 in Elkins, West Virginia, culminating on Nov. 17 when the tree, named “wa’feem’tekwi” by the Shawnee Tribe, is delivered with a graphics wrap showcasing the U.S. Capitol Building, the Christmas tree, and a scenic backdrop of the Monongahela National Forest.

1,000th Technician Apprentice Program Graduate

Guided by the mission to "Restore the Rhythm of Your Life," Caliber is reshaping the perception of the automotive service industry and spearheading efforts to address the nationwide shortage of auto body technicians.

Recently marking the milestone of our 1,000th Technician Apprentice Program graduate successfully transitioning to a full-time auto body repair technician. In 2022, over 250 technicians graduated with an additional 1,500-plus apprentices currently enrolled.

Building on this success in 2023, Caliber had over 2,000 apprentices actively participating, and anticipate further program growth in 2024 and beyond.

Helping Truck Drivers Facing Financial Challenges

The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund announce that AMBEST, the alliance of independent truckstop and service center proprietors, is contributing a total of $57,387 to assist truck drivers facing financial challenges.

The funds, generated by AMBEST members and employees during the 35th Annual Meeting at the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno, NV, nearly doubled the amount collected at last year's gathering.

Since 2015, AMBEST and its members have raised over $166,000 for SCF, supporting semi-truck drivers and their families coping with financial difficulties from medical issues.