Florida Rock & Tank joins Skillbridge as registered apprenticeship provider

Florida Rock & Tank Lines (FR&TL) recently joined the U.S. Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program as a certified Department of Labor apprenticeship provider.

“We are excited about the opportunity to hire and train military service members who are transitioning to civilian life,” said Rob Sandlin, FR&TL president and CEO, and immediate past chairman of National Tank Truck Carriers. “Skillbridge participation will allow us the opportunity to engage military personnel who have an interest in gaining their CDL and making a career as a professional tank truck driver in a local environment.”

Army veteran Patrick Murphy, a former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania who chairs the White House’s trucking task force, congratulated FR&TL for becoming “an official DOD Skillbridge and certified DOL apprenticeship provider,” and its trailblazing support of the Biden administration’s Trucking Action Plan.

“FR&TL’s immediate response to the Biden-Harris Trucking Action Plan is to be commended,” he said. “It is critical that industry stakeholders and employers like FR&TL showcase meaningful and transparent career pathways for our transitioning service members and veterans in the trucking industry. The DOD offerings to service members who are transitioning with programs like Skillbridge fills a gap for both the service member and employers like FR&TL.

“These efforts will be impactful to those who have honorably served their country for generations to come.”

See also: In-depth interview with FR&TL president

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based bulk hauler, a subsidiary of Patriot Transportation, said it will hire transitioning service members who have applicable truck-driving experience in the military. FR&TL also will work with Florida and other states to provide inexperienced service members the opportunity to gain their CDL through vocational training and community colleges that offer 300-hour-or-greater CDL truck driving programs.

FR&TL then will provide extended on-the-job training through the registered apprenticeship program, the company said.

“The tank truck jobs we have to offer are critical to our country, and our drivers are highly skilled professionals who take pride in our mission to safely deliver our customers’ products that the public depends on daily,” Sandlin said.

“This is a perfect fit for our military veterans.”