Exchange Drives Away with People’s Choice Prize at Great American Trucking Show

Members of Corporate Communication and the Logistics Directorate hold the big prize in front of the Exchange truck.

For the second straight year, the Exchange drove home with the The Great American Trucking Show’s Pride & Polish Best in Show People’s Choice award.

Exchange driver Bradley Wacks, who was recently inducted into the National Private Truck Council’s Driver Hall of Fame, accepted the award during a ceremony Aug. 25 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The 19th annual trucking show attracts thousands of visitors, who vote for their favorite tractor-trailer on display.

“Winning Best in Show is an awesome accomplishment,” said Wacks, who has driven for the Exchange for 31 years. “The truck is a beautiful tribute to Veterans, and this award means so much to the Logistics team. It’s a big deal for us.”

Bradley Wacks, left, and Johnny Olson post with the trophy in front of the truck. Olson, a Marine Veteran, designed the wrap to honor all Veterans.

Saluting Veterans, designed by Veteran

The winning truck, which made its debut at the show, salutes our Nation’s Veterans and ShopMyExchange.com.

Johnny Olson, creative director in Corporate Communication and a Marine Corps Veteran, created the winning design.

“As a Veteran, I designed something I would want to see rolling down the road that would turn heads and honor all who have served,” Olson said. “The design resonates with Exchange associates, too, as 85 percent of us are connected to the military.”

The truck also won second place in the Combo, New Truck category in the Pride & Polish class judging. The Pride & Polish competition honors excellence and creativity in the trucking industry.

This is the third year the Exchange has participated in the show and contest.

“As a Veteran, I designed something I would want to see rolling down the road that would turn heads and honor all who have served,”

-Johnny Olson, Corporate Communication and wrap designer

The Exchange Logistics, Human Resources and Corporate Communication teams were on hand throughout The Great American Trucking Show to inform Veterans in attendance of the tax-free shopping benefit, with military-exclusive pricing, available at ShopMyExchange.com.

‘We want to hire them, too’

Visitors to the Exchange booth also applied for careers in the Exchange’s fleet. Brad Osborne, HR business partner, spoke with Veterans about the benefits of working for the Exchange, which has committed to hiring 50,000 Veterans and military spouses by 2020.

“Veterans know our customers because they are our customers,” Osborne said. “We serve our heroes, but we want to hire them too.”

To see a time-lapse video of the winning truck being wrapped, visit here.

To view photos from the truck show, visit the Exchange associate Flickr album.

Public Relations Specialist Marisa Wolfe contributed to this article.