GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tom Lehr, a highly decorated U.S. Marine veteran and truck driver for Schneider, will captain this year’s Ride of Pride truck for the company. The Freightliner Ride of Pride truck is a rolling tribute to members of the military.
Many military men and women defend their country but never get the opportunity to travel widely across the land they serve to protect.
“Driving over the road has given me the opportunity to finally see the country that I had been protecting,” Lehr said. “Now I get to see it up close in all its glory.”
Freightliner has presented Schneider with a total of 12 U.S. Ride of Pride trucks, as well as three Canadian Ride of Pride trucks. Following the tradition of naming the trucks by previous Schneider Ride of Pride drivers, Lehr has named this year’s unit Fidelity.
“Adding a new Ride of Pride to our fleet is always a special, tangible display of our commitment to those who serve, past and present,” said Rob Reich, Schneider’s executive vice president and chief administrative officer — and U.S. Army veteran. “We are incredibly proud to have someone as professional and highly regarded as Tom Lehr, a million-mile safe driver, behind the wheel of this year’s beautifully decorated Ride of Pride truck.”
Throughout the next year, the general public will see Lehr and the Ride of Pride on the road and at the annual Wreaths Across America event.
“I’m excited for America to see the truck up close and personal,” Lehr said. “There are so many distinctive truck decals that represent the theme ‘Military Uniforms Through the Years,’ and I’m excited to talk all about them.”
Schneider has been independently ranked as the top military-friendly employer in the trucking industry, and many in its fleets are veterans or actively serving in military guard and reserve units. This contingent includes Lehr, who has been a Schneider professional driver and training engineer for 19 years.
A resident of Harlan, Iowa, Lehr spent much of his military life at Camp Pendleton, California, after enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his 22 years in the Marines, he was deployed overseas, serving in Japan, Korea and Australia, and trained hundreds of Marines in weaponry, anti-armor assault and more.
“The Freightliner team is proud to stand with our friends at Schneider to show our appreciation and gratitude to all of the brave service members who have worked or currently are working to protect our country,” said Richard Howard, senior vice president on-highway sales and marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. “It’s a true honor to participate in the Ride of Pride program with our important customer, Schneider, and to watch the program continue to grow year after year.”
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
