A deserving military veteran received the keys to a Freightliner truck through Progressive’s 10th annual Keys to Progress program. The Keys to Progress program provides reliable transportation to help military veterans and their families move forward in life.

According to the American Trucking Association, the U.S. is about 80,000 truck drivers short of what is needed to meet rising demand. By providing transportation support, Progressive hopes to offer a little relief and support a military veteran facing tough circumstances and assist them on the owner-operator journey.

“Keys to Progress is one of the most impactful events we do every year,” said Karen Bailo Commercial Lines President. “We are celebrating 10 years of giving back to our veterans who have selflessly sacrificed so much for all of us. The continuation of this program has allowed hundreds of our veterans to move forward in life by providing them a personal or commercial vehicle to support themselves or their small businesses. Just as our veteran’s commitment has endured, so will ours as we look forward to what the next decade brings.”

A Veteran Trucking Winner

The deserving recipient of the Keys to Progress truck giveaway – who has also been gifted $50,000 toward business startup expenses – is Lt. Colonel James C “JC” Rose from Kathleen, Georgia.

Nominated by St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, Lt. Colonel Rose is a 30-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Lt. Colonel Rose received the keys to a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia Truck which he will use as a driver for Prime, Inc., an organization that is designed to support service men and women transitioning out of the military into a new career.  Lt. Colonel Rose plans to use this vehicle to help others and plans to employ fellow veterans on his fleet.

“I was humbled and honored to even be asked to apply for Keys to Progress, and now that I know I’ll be receiving this truck and unbelievable care package, I’m more dedicated than ever to building a fleet and starting my own trucking business,” said Lt. Colonel Rose. “I hope to hire many of the veterans I’ve met over the years who are struggling in their transition to civilian life.” 

Lt. Colonel Rose received the truck during a giveaway ceremony on October 19 at SelecTrucks of Houston.

Making the Donation Happen

The following key partners helped make this life-changing giveaway possible:

• SelecTrucks of Houston, is a full-service Freightliner/Western Star commercial truck dealership offering new and used commercial trucks, parts, service and body shop.

• 1-800-Charity Cars, provides resources to facilitate vehicle donations, as well as titling and registration of some vehicles for recipients.

• Veracity Research Co. Investigations, a veteran-owned and operated organization, helps support the recipient selection process each year.

This marks Progressive’s second commercial semi-truck donation giveaway through the Keys to Progress program. Past commercial truck recipient and Army veteran-turned-truck-driver, James Rogers, has made the most of his vehicle since receiving it in 2018.

The truck giveaway is an extension of Progressive’s larger Keys to Progress program. On November 10, over 100 veterans in need across the country and their families, along with 12 military-related organizations, will receive the keys to vehicles that will provide reliable transportation, helping them get back on the road and move forward in life. Since the program’s inception in 2013, Progressive has honored more than 900 veterans with vehicles provided through the Keys to Progress program.

For more information on Progressive’s Keys to Progress program, visit KeysToProgress.com or search #KeysToProgress on social media. 

Many fleet and trucking companies are making an effort to recognize and support our military veterans. The Used Truck Association honored vetarans at its annual convention, NAIT donated $50,000 to Wreaths across America, and late in 2021, Paccar Parts earned a 2022 military friendly employer designation.