Veteran Who Transitioned to Trucking Wins Free Trip To MATS

U.S. Army veteran Larry J. Berman of Spring Hill, Fla., has been selected as winner of the 2nd annual “I Did My Duty…Now I Drive Heavy Duty” contest. The award was presented at the 2018 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky in March.

The contest is sponsored by Belmor, a manufacturer and supplier of heavy duty truck accessories.

Berman served in the U.S. Army from 1974-2000, completing a successful career as a medic EMT and a medical instructor for the U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences. After achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class, Berman transitioned to the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served from 2002-2015 as an Independent Duty Corpsman.

After dedicating his life to serving his country, Berman retired with his wife, Mary, a fellow U.S. Army soldier. The Bermans then transitioned to the heavy duty trucking industry and now work as a team for US Xpress Enterprises.

Berman’s submission was selected by a panel of judges led by Mitch Fogle, president and CEO of Belmor parent Lund International. Fellow judges included trucking industry representatives from AAA Cooper Transportation, OOIDA, Holland Freight, Fastport and 10-4 Magazine. In winning the contest, Berman received a trip for two to MATS.

“All submissions were reviewed in a blind-judging process and rated on criteria such as emotional engagement, purpose and commitment to the field of truck driving,” Fogle explained.

Open to all U.S. Armed Forces veterans 21 and older currently employed as commercial truck drivers, the contest invited participants to tell “their story” about their military service and career in the trucking industry. Submissions included information about time of service, duties in the military, factors that led to a transition into the trucking industry, what makes commercial truck driving enjoyable and why attending MATS was important.

For more information, visit belmor.com.