SPC. TREY DODDS, A TRUCK DRIVER WITH THE 110TH COMPOSITE TRUCK COMPANY, ATTACHES A TRAILER TO A VEHICLE ON SEPT. 13, 2018, IN PREPARATION FOR DEPLOYMENT IN HURRICANE AFFECTED AREAS ON THE EAST COAST. (PHOTO: ARMY PHOTO BY SGT. LIANE HATCH)
Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) and CRST International made the list of 2019 Military Friendly® Companies. The only two truckload carriers to receive the designation, both companies were recognized for their commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
The Military Friendly® designation is decided by VIQTORY, a company dedicated to connecting military veterans with civilian employment, entrepreneurship and education opportunities.
When it comes to deciding which companies to recognize, the organization looks for commitment to veterans across multiple areas.
“[Being a military friendly employer] may mean different things to different people, but to us it means total commitment—total commitment to tapping into military talent, whether as employees, students, suppliers, consumers or like-minded people with like-minded missions,” the company’s website reads. “And having the right people, programs and policies in place to make it happen.”
Military Friendly® Companies are companies that met or exceeded VIQTORY’s measurable standards in at least three of the following four categories:
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Recruiting, hiring and training of veterans (Military Friendly® Employers)
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Recruiting, hiring and training of military spouses (Military Spouse Friendly® Employers)
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Partnering with and supporting Veteran-Owned Businesses (Military Friendly® Supplier Diversity Programs)
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Commitment to military consumer protections and having a positive brand reputation in the military community (Military Friendly® Brands)
“A Military Friendly® designation is calculated for each of the individual survey components,” according to VIQTORY. “Any company earning three or more individual Military Friendly® designations is considered a Military Friendly® Company. A Military Friendly designation is based solely on the input survey results. Advertising or sponsorship relationship has no bearing on the designation status.”
While separate from the awards process, VIQTORY also provides companies with scores against their benchmark standards in various areas, including: Hiring and onboarding, opportunity and advancement, culture and commitment, support and retention, policies and compliance, and recruiting and sourcing.
Both Werner and CRST exceeded in the benchmark standard in every measured area.
Both companies offer VA-approved apprenticeship programs and allow veterans to take advantage of their VA education benefits.
At Werner, veterans and their spouses make up approximately 20% of the company’s workforce. They have hired 13,000 veterans since 2012 and over 1,000 veteran spouses since 2013.
“It is truly an honor to be named a Military Friendly® Company among a diverse group of industries for the third consecutive year,” Werner President and Chief Executive Officer Derek Leathers said. “We appreciate our veterans, veteran spouses and their families who continuously strengthen Werner’s elite workforce.”
CRST offers active duty reservists and honorably discharged veterans a $500 sign-on bonus, on top of any other bonuses they qualify for within the company.
“We know what we get with our veterans–commitment, determination and an all-around team player,” CRST’s website reads. “In return, we make sure they get excellent pay, great benefits and a team that supports them.”
The full list of 2019 Military Friendly® Companies can be accessed here.
