2025 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award Winner Charles Jones Jr. Charts His Own Path to Success
For U.S. Army veteran Charles Jones Jr., life on the road has been a dream come true since being awarded a new Kenworth T680 last year as the grand prize winner of the 2025 Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program.
After more than 20 years of service in the Army, Jones entered the trucking industry with aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur and one day owning his own truck. For Jones, the award program, which celebrates top rookie military veterans who have successfully transitioned into truck driving careers, accelerated his transition from company driver to owner-operator.
“I was blown away when I heard my name called as the grand prize winner,” Jones recalled. “There were so many highly deserving veterans nominated for this award program, so I feel so fortunate to have won. It’s amazing that there are programs like Transition Trucking to recognize veterans in the trucking industry. A big thanks goes out to Fastport, Kenworth, Hiring Our Heroes, and all the sponsors for their contributions to make this award program happen each year.”
According to Jones, there was no question he wanted to pursue a career as a commercial truck driver when he retired from the Army in 2024. During his military career, his work in aviation and logistics put him in contact with commercial truck drivers transporting military vehicles and equipment, and conversations with those drivers sparked his interest. He saw strong similarities between trucking and military life, particularly the time away from home, detailed planning, organization, and the high level of responsibility that comes with both careers.
“The military teaches you discipline, adaptability, and mission focus – skills that translate well to trucking,” said Jones. “In this industry, if you’re willing to put in the work and take ownership, there’s an incredible amount of untapped opportunity to build real financial independence and chart your own path to success.”
Jones, who began his career with Roehl Transport, is now leased on with Schneider National, hauling a variety of dry van freight throughout the lower 48 states in his T680. He’s using the opportunity to learn the business side of trucking while working toward eventually becoming fully independent.
“It’s a big transition going from a company driver to owner-operator, but I’m enjoying the process of learning how to run my business,” said Jones. “Schneider has been great to work with, and as an owner-operator, I have the freedom to plan my schedule around when I’d like to be home and select the loads that work best for me.”
According to Jones, before taking ownership of his T680 last December, he had never driven a Kenworth during his time as a company driver. Now, he can’t imagine driving anything else. After more than two decades in the military, Jones carries a few lingering injuries that can make spending long hours behind the wheel uncomfortable. With the T680, Jones claims its heated and cooled seats, extensive adjustment options, torque-assisted steering, and overall smooth ride make a night-and-day difference on the road. As a longtime Cadillac fan, he compares the T680 to a luxury automobile.
“The T680 really is the perfect driver’s truck,” said Jones. “It’s a premium truck that’s on par with the level of quality, comfort, and features I’d expect from my Cadillac. It’s a well-built piece of equipment, and the creature comforts it offers make long days on the road a much more enjoyable experience.”
Jones’ T680 is equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and a PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine (455 horsepower), PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem-rear axles. Jones, who spends weeks at a time on the road, said the truck provides plenty of power for the freight he hauls and has been extremely reliable, allowing him to keep up with his busy schedule.
During the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program, Jones had the opportunity to tour Kenworth’s manufacturing facility to see firsthand how the trucks are built. It was the first vehicle manufacturing plant he had ever visited, and he was impressed by how quickly trucks move through the assembly process and the meticulous attention to detail involved in building them.
What stood out the most, however, was the number of employees he encountered who had military backgrounds. To Jones, seeing veterans involved in building Kenworth trucks gave the T680 he’s in now an even deeper meaning.
“Knowing that Kenworth is active in providing employment opportunities for veterans and experiencing firsthand their contribution to the Transition Trucking program means a lot to me,” said Jones. “I take a lot of pride in my Kenworth knowing that it was built in part by others who have served.”
For Jones, the future is bright as he works toward accomplishing the goals he set for himself and his family. With greater control over his schedule and earning potential, Jones’ first priority is to purchase a home for his family.
From there, he plans to continue learning the ins and outs of running his own business before eventually getting his own authority and purchasing a trailer. In time, he’d like to add a few more Kenworth T680s and build a small fleet of his own.
For now, though, Jones is taking things one step at a time and enjoying the experience of being an owner-operator. He’s learning what it takes to manage his truck, make smart business decisions, and keep the wheels turning. There’s still plenty ahead of him, but Jones is excited about what comes next and where his Kenworth will take him.
“Honestly, I’m still in awe of where my life is right now,” Jones reflected. “I genuinely love what I do. Traveling the country, seeing all these incredible sights, and taking in scenery I used to only dream about visiting – there’s nothing quite like it. Every day I’m out here, I’m building something that’s mine, doing meaningful work, and seeing the best of what this country has to offer.”
