USA Truck launches scholarship program

USA Truck announced Friday (Jan. 14) a scholarship program expected to help 10 children of employees attend college or a technical school in the fall of 2011.

The USA Truck Scholarship Program is a part of the “Experience USA Truck” program the Van Buren-based trucking company initiated to improve employee and driver recruitment and retention. USA Truck employs about 3,200 nationwide.

"At USA Truck we recognize that our driver employees and those who assist them in providing safe and efficient service to our customers are essential to our success,” USA Truck President and CEO Cliff Beckham said in a statement. “As a part of the Company’s on-going commitment to enhance the USA Truck Experience for our employees and their families, we are excited to introduce the USA Truck Scholarship Program."

The application deadline is March 1, with announcements to be made April.

Managing the program for USA Truck is Minneapolis-based Scholarship America. Since its founding in 1958, Scholarship America has distributed more than $2.4 billion to 1.7 million students in 1958

Darron Ming, vice president of finance and chief financial officer at USA Truck, said the scholarship amount has been determined. Ming said the one-year scholarships may be used for vocational and undergraduate studies. He also said details are not yet known on how applicants are selected, but said it will include grades and activities while in high school.

Ming said the “economic environment will dictate” the possibility of expanding the program in 2012 and beyond.