U.S. Xpress has launched the Full Ride college scholarship program for truck drivers and their families to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

The Full Ride scholarship program covers the tuition costs for drivers or their children to earn a degree from an accredited school, Ashford University, in several disciplines ranging from business and logistics to accounting and behavioral science. Ashford University is a for-profit, online university based in San Diego, California.

Each driver may have a total of two family members enrolled in school at one time (either two dependents or the driver and one dependent). Dependents must be aged 17 to 26. The benefit will also be available to drivers working for Total Transportation of Mississippi, a subsidiary of U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc.

“U.S. Xpress is proud and excited to launch the Full Ride program and become the first national trucking company to offer drivers and their families the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field of their choice,” said Eric Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress. “In addition to helping our company recruit and retain more drivers, this program offers our drivers and their families the life-changing opportunity to attend college at a time when it is becoming increasingly expensive and unattainable to many.”

Enrolled students do not have to front the tuition and later seek reimbursement; the U.S. Xpress Full Ride program pays all costs directly to the university, covering tuition, books, and course materials. Truck drivers are eligible to participate as soon as they begin work with U.S. Xpress, and student drivers are eligible after completing behind-the-wheel training and being promoted to a first seat driver.

“We believe the Full Ride program will attract people to our industry who may have not previously thought about driving a truck,” said Fuller. “If your goal is to get an education without racking up debt, we can offer you a means to accomplish that goal. If you want a degree but are not interested in sitting in a classroom all day, we offer you the opportunity to see the country while completing your studies.”

For more information on the Full Ride program, click here.