U.S. Xpress Enterprises has named Wade Hinton its chief inclusion partner, and announced that the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based truckload carrier will engage with Hinton's professional services firm, Hinton & Company, in a commitment to advance inclusion and diversity.

Hinton and his team will work closely with U.S. Xpress leadership and the company’s Inclusion & Diversity Council to define goals, map strategies, and outline specific deliverables to becoming a more inclusive organization, U.S. Xpress offiicals said in a press release. The company established the Inclusion & Diversity Council in 2020. The council is led by a wide assortment of team members, each representing unique points of view. From this council, employee resource groups were launched to address important issues that impact women, those of different ethnic backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, and the military veterans working throughout the company.

“Attracting, supporting, and retaining a diverse workforce is essential to our growth and pivotal in successfully transforming trucking," said Eric Fuller, president and CEO of U.S. Xpress.

Hinton was a 2021 Chattanooga mayoral candidate and most recently served as vice president of inclusion and diversity for Unum, a Fortune 500 insurance benefits company. He also served as city attorney for the City of Chattanooga and deputy general counsel for Volkswagen Chattanooga.

"This is one more step in an ongoing journey U.S. Xpress is taking to create a more inclusive culture," company officials said.