Joining Forces Forum on Hiring Veterans in Transportation

Good morning, everyone. And Steve -- thank you so much for that introduction.

Early in the State of the Union, the President reminded us that, for the first time since 9/11, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over.

Today, fewer than 15,000 men and women serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I'll quote the President directly and say: "we the salute the courage and sacrifice of every man and woman in this 9/11 Generation who has served to keep us safe."

But we owe these men and women more than a thank you. And the President talked about this, too. We owe them every opportunity to live the American dream they helped defend.

And I think that's why we also owe a big debt of gratitude to First Lady Michelle Obama, to Dr. Jill Biden, and to everyone on the Joining Forces team. Because they've helped nearly 700,000 veterans and military spouses get a new job.

So let me just talk a bit about how the Department of Transportation is building on these efforts.

It's a point of pride to me, first of all, that more than a quarter of the folks who work at the U.S. Department of Transportation are veterans. And we want that number to grow -- not just in our department, but throughout the industry.

And so, I also want to give a quick shout-out to two very important partners of ours at the Department of Defense who are here with us. That's Marion Cain and Frank DiGiovanni.

We've been working with Marion and Frank to change how we credential veterans, so they can go from sailor to mariner -- or soldier to trucker -- much easier.

For example, it used to be that a veteran hoping to transition into the trucking industry had to demonstrate they had adequate technical skills before they could obtain a CDL. They had to take that test even if they were tasked with operating heavy-duty vehicles while in the military.

But at DOT, we figured if you've operated a Humvee in Kabul, you're more than ready for rush hour on I-95. And so, with Marion and Frank's help, we've changed the process so that in all 50 states now, veterans who have driven heavy-duty vehicles are no longer required to take the skills portion on the licensing exams.

And this really leads me to what I want to talk about today for a couple of minutes.

Because, often when we talk about hiring veterans, we talk about it as if we're helping them, when the reality is: These men and women are so skilled, they're helping us. They're helping the businesses and the business owners.

Steve Sperduto is proof of that.

Four years ago, while serving in Japan with the U.S. Marine Corps, Steve was called upon to help get supplies out to medical teams who were assisting the victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami.

Steve helped coordinate those deliveries. But it was also his responsibility to manage the upkeep of the vehicles being used to transport the supplies, and to prevent any breakdowns that would have stalled deliveries.

Steve made sure that didn't happen. Those were the leadership skills that led him to attain the rank of a sergeant.

And this is why, as Steve transitioned to civilian live, and applied to work at UPS, the company made an exception to its normal procedures for new hires. They placed him right away into a full-time management position.

They knew if Steve had overseen a unit of 30 Marines, he was ready to supervise five other mechanics charged with keeping 150 UPS vehicles on the road. And by all accounts, today Steven is a model employee.

In less than a year, he has already made such a positive impression on his co-workers that UPS has since hired other Marines in a similar fashion.

By the way, if you think his past year sounds like it's been busy, I hear he also just got married in September …

So, as I said, I didn't want to speak long. And I'll end my remarks there, except to make one last point:

If you're a CEO or you own a small business in any industry -- but especially the transportation industry -- I know you need good workers: whether you're building highways, running a transit system, operating a railroad, or moving freight on the water.

So, as the President said, if you want somebody who's going to get the job done and done right, hire a veteran.

Not because you're patriotic, though I'm sure you are. Or because it's the right thing to do, although it is.

Do it because it's a smart decision.

Because veterans are, by definition, some of the only folks who have set aside their personal interests to serve the greater good. And what more could a boss ask for than that? Especially in the transportation industry.

I know, all over this country, there are veterans who have the right skills, the right work ethic, and the right temperament for this challenge. They're ready to start a new mission, and to be leaders here at home.

They've dedicated themselves to protecting our way of the life, and the American dream.

So I ask all of you today to set some big goals following today's session for recruiting and hiring veterans.

And let's make sure these men and women get a fair shot at achieving that dream themselves.

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