Photos courtesy of Dennis Peaton.
As SkillsUSA moves closer to our first in-person national conference since 2019, longtime supporter and industry partner Penske Trucking has helped the organization shift into high gear as SkillsUSA hits the “Road to Atlanta,” the site for the 2022 NLSC this June.
Penske graciously donated flatbed trucks, tractor trailers and other equipment to help transport SkillsUSA’s competition warehouse from the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville (the previous site for the NLSC) to Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. Getting that equipment relocated to the new NLSC site safely and securely was a vital first step in conference preparation. The move took careful planning by Darren Gibson — SkillsUSA’s program director of the SkillsUSA Championships — to ensure safety of the equipment as it moved from warehouse to warehouse. A total of 12 Teamsters assisted with driving the donated vehicles to and from the warehouses, a two-week process.
Considering the major trailer shortage in the U.S., Penske’s generous donation was crucial; in fact, the move couldn’t have happened without it. “The support Penske provided in July was incredible and invaluable to our SkillsUSA warehouse move,” Gibson confirmed.
According to Penske, The SkillsUSA mission aligns with the company’s view of the important role skilled labor plays in America’s economy and the transportation industry specifically. “This donation is a great beginning to our partnering with SkillsUSA on a national level,” added Brad Taylor, Penske’s North Florida district manager.
For the Penske perspective on their donation and ongoing partnership with SkillsUSA, check out their company blog post. Look for more stops on SkillsUSA’s “Road to Atlanta” coming soon.
